A/RES/69/159
Rights of indigenous peoples
General Assembly on the Millennium Development Goals 5 and the outcome
document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, held in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to 22 June 2012, entitled “The future we want”,6
Recognizing the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Indigenous and
Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169) of the International Labour
Organization,7
Taking note of the outcome documents of the recent regional review
conferences on population and development, including the Regional Conference on
Population and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, which included
“Indigenous peoples: interculturalism and rights”,
Recognizing the value and the diversity of the cultures and the form of social
organization of indigenous peoples and their holistic traditional scientific
knowledge of their lands, natural resources and environment,
Recognizing also the importance of traditional sustainable agricultural
practices, including traditional seed supply systems, as well as access to credit and
other financial services, markets, secure land tenure, health care, social services,
education, training, knowledge and appropriate and affordable technologies,
including efficient irrigation, the reuse of treated wastewater and water harvesting
and storage for indigenous peoples and others living in rural areas,
Welcoming the achievements made during the Second International Decade of
the World’s Indigenous People, and recognizing that challenges remain in finding
solutions to the problems faced by indigenous peoples in such areas as traditional
knowledge, science, culture, education, health, human rights, the environment and
social and economic development,
Concerned about the extreme disadvantages that indigenous peoples have
typically faced across a range of social and economic indicators and about the
impediments to their full enjoyment of their rights,
Stressing the need to pay particular attention to the rights and special needs of
indigenous women, children, youth, older persons and persons with disabilities, as
set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,
including in the process of protecting and promoting their access to justice,
Recognizing the forthcoming thirtieth anniversary of the United Nations
Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples, in 2015,
1.
Notes the work of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples, of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and of the Special
Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the rights of indigenous peoples, takes
note of her report,8 and encourages all Governments to respond favourably to her
requests for visits;
2.
Welcomes the outcome document of the high-level plenary meeting of the
General Assembly known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples,1 and
urges Governments and the United Nations system, in consultation and cooperation
_______________
5
Resolution 65/1.
Resolution 66/288, annex.
7
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1650, No. 28383.
8
A/69/267.
6
2/5