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International Advocacy

Core Rights & Standards

Start here to learn what rights exist and where they come from. UNDRIP sets Indigenous-specific standards; the ICCPR protects civil and political rights for everyone.

U.N. DRIP

Born from Navajo voices at the U.N., UNDRIP guides how we care for our people. It turns big promises into everyday protections for our families, culture, and land.

In the 1990s, representatives of the Navajo government advocated for the recognition of Navajo people’s human rights before the United Nations. In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (“Declaration”). One of the four nations that voted against the Declaration was the United States of America (“United States”). On December 16, 2010, The President of the United States Barack H. Obama announced the United States’ support of the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Since the Navajo Nation has expended a large amount of resources and time advocating strongly before the United Nations and the Organization of American States regarding Navajo human rights, the Commission deemed it appropriate and necessary to advance the interest of the Navajo people and the Navajo Nation government by conducting its works and activities consistent with the standards established by the Declaration.

The Commission affirms that the Declaration should be made part of Navajo written law and has stated so in the orientation session for the 22nd Navajo Nation Council and for the Navajo President and Vice-President after their inauguration.

U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Your voice, vote, faith, and right to gather—protected in writing, defended in practice. With the ICCPR, we hold the U.S. to its promises, from due process to free, prior and informed consent for sacred places like the San Francisco Peaks.

Adopted in December 1966, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (“ICCPR”) ensures that men and women are treated equally and enjoy all civil and political rights including the right to life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, the right to vote and due process. All state parties (i.e Countries) signing onto the ICCPR must submit state party reports to the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

The Human Rights Committee is comprised of independent human rights experts and each state party is subject to review by the Human Rights Committee every four-years.

State parties’ reviews pertain to their compliance and implementation of ICCPR. The United States of America was under review by the Human Rights Committee on March 13-14, 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland at the United Nations. The Navajo Nation participated in the review process by submitting possible questions to be asked by the Human Rights Committee to the United States.

The Navajo Nation’s questions pertained to how the United States is protecting the human rights of the Navajo people by ensuring that San Francisco Peaks, a sacred mountain, is in compliance with “free, prior and informed consent” by indigenous peoples.

UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW

The U.N. reviews each country’s human rights record. We help share Navajo community concerns through public submissions.

The Universal Periodic Review is a U.N. Human Rights Council mechanism to review its 193 member nations periodically in a public forum where citizens of member nations provide testimony about human rights violations.

Click here for Universal Period Review

In 2010, the UPR was initiated after being created by the United Nations General Assembly.

The United States hosted its review in 2010, and for indigenous peoples several host sites were coordinated for American citizens to provide testimony to the United States representatives, one of which was in Window Rock, Navajo Nation (Arizona), the capital of the Navajo Nation.

Recently, the United States accepted the following recommendations either in whole or in part which they received during the U.N. Human Rights Council UPR process. The recommendations in whole and in part are divided into the ten thematic categories:

  • Civil Rights and Racial and Ethnic Discrimination;
  • Criminal Justice Issues;
  • Indigenous Issues;
  • National Security;
  • Immigration;
  • Labor and Trafficking;
  • The Environment;
  • Domestic Implementation of Human Rights; and
  • Treaties and International Human Rights Mechanisms.

A concise overview of U.S.-accepted UPR recommendations, grouped into ten categories that include Indigenous issues, justice, environment, and more.

For more info

What the UPR is, who participates, and how communities like the Navajo Nation can contribute to the U.N. human rights review process.

See the UPR Process

The NNHRC’s independent report to the UPR—documenting Navajo perspectives and proposed actions to strengthen human rights protections.

Read NNHRC’s Submission

UN Mechanisms for Indigenous Rights (EMRIP & WCIP)

EMRIP provides expert advice to the U.N. on Indigenous rights. WCIP (2014), shaped by the Alta Outcome Document, brought states and Indigenous peoples together to turn UNDRIP into action.

EXPERT MECHANISM ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

The U.N.’s expert advisory body that guides how Indigenous rights—and UNDRIP—are put into practice. It turns community input into practical recommendations for governments and the Human Rights Council.

On 13 September 2007, the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) adopted The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. On 14 December the same year, the Human Rights Council of the United Nations established the Expert Mechanism on the “On 13 September 2007, the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) adopted The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. On 14 December the same year, the Human Rights Council of the United Nations established the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), as an advisory body for the advancement of indigenous rights,” according to the International Work Group of Indigenous Affairs.

For more information about EMRIP, Click here

WORLD CONFERENCE ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

WCIP - A high-level U.N. gathering where governments and Indigenous peoples agree on concrete steps to implement UNDRIP. Guided by the Alta Outcome Document, it focuses on sharing what works and committing to do more.

The United Nations initiated several mechanisms to address rights of indigenous peoples. In September 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (“Declaration”). In addition, the UN instituted ongoing efforts to address concerns and issues affecting indigenous peoples including, but not limited to, establishing the Expert Mechanism on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, appointment of Professor James Anaya as Special Rapporteur, and assessment of United States’ human rights record by the UN Human Rights Council.

As part of the UN effort to implement the Declaration, the UN General Assembly in 2010 set aside September 2014 to hold the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (“WCIP”). The purpose of WCIP is “to share perspectives and best practices on the realization of the rights of indigenous peoples, including to pursue the objectives of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.” (United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/65/198) Since 2010, the UN devised a systematic way to receive input from indigenous peoples, and UN accepted the Norwegian government’s offer to host an indigenous peoples preparatory meeting at Alta, Norway in June 2013. The Alta, Norway meeting produced the Alta Outcome Document, which is considered a consensus document coming from indigenous peoples.

Click here to review the report on the meeting at Alta, Norway.

The harms of colonization and discrimination are real and ongoing. The U.N. is working to turn listening into protection through clear standards and dedicated bodies.

Indigenous peoples across the world experience the consequences of historical colonization and invasion of their territories, and face discrimination because of their distinct cultures, identities and ways of life. In recent decades, the international community has given special attention to the human rights situations of indigenous peoples, as shown by the adoption of international standards and guidelines, as well as by the establishment of institutions and bodies that specifically target these peoples’ concerns. The rights of indigenous peoples are further promoted by international and regional human rights mechanisms. Indigenous Peoples.

In this context, the Commission on Human Rights decided to appoint in 2001 a Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, as part of the system of thematic Special Procedures . The Special Rapporteur’s mandate was renewed by the Commission on Human Rights in 2004, and by the Human Rights Council in 2007. (Mandate).

In the fulfillment of her mandate, the Special Rapporteur:

  1. Promotes good practices, including new laws, government programs, and constructive agreements between indigenous peoples and states, to implement international standards concerning the rights of indigenous peoples (Promotion of good practices);
  2. Reports on the overall human rights situations of indigenous peoples in selected countries (Country reports);
  3. Addresses specific cases of alleged violations of the rights of indigenous peoples through communications with Governments and others (Communications);
  4. Conducts or contributes to thematic studies on topics of special importance regarding the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples (Thematic studies).

The Special Rapporteur undertakes efforts to follow-up on the recommendations included in her predecessor’s reports in relation to the foregoing areas of work.

Additionally, she reports annually on her activities to the Human Rights Council (Annual reports).

U.N. Special Rapporteur - Victoria Tauli-Corpuz

Who she is

Victoria Tauli-Corpuz is an indigenous leader from the Kankanaey Igorot people of the Cordillera Region in the Philippines. Is a social development consultant, indigenous activist, civic leader, human rights expert, public servant, and an advocate of women's rights in the Philippines.

What she’s known for

She was the former Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2005-2010). As an indigenous leader she got actively engaged in drafting and adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007. She helped build the indigenous peoples' movement in the Cordillera as a youth activist in the early 1970s. She helped organize indigenous peoples in the community level to fight against the projects of the Marcos Dictatorship such as the Chico River Hydroelectric Dam and the Cellophil Resources Corporation. These communities succeeded in stopping these.

Founder & Builder

She is the founder and executive director of Tebtebba Foundation (Indigenous Peoples' International Center for Policy Research and Education). Ms. Tauli-Corpuz has founded and managed various NGOs involved in social awareness raising, climate change, the advancement of indigenous peoples' and women's rights. A member of the Kankana-ey Igorat peoples, she was the chairperson of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. She is an Expert for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and has served as the chairperson-rapporteur of the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations. She is also the indigenous and gender adviser of the Third World Network and a member of United Nations Development Programme Civil Society Organizations Advisory Committee.

Why the Mandate Matters

"I decided to apply for this Special Procedure for several reasons. First, there is still a long way to go before indigenous peoples' rights are effectively respected, protected and fulfilled. I can see the important role the SRIPR can play in helping States to implement more effectively their role as duty bearers of human rights. In this era, when many of the world's remaining natural resources are largely found in indigenous peoples' territories, there are increasing violations of their basic rights to lands, territories and resources and to self-determination and participation. This need not be the case. I think the SR can help governments understand better how the development visions and aspirations of indigenous peoples are consistent with sustainable development objectives and principles. Achieving sustainable development cannot be delinked from the need to respect and protect the basic human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples"

Victoria Tauli-Corpuz