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indigenous peoples was not sought for aspects of policies that would most directly impact
them.
Culture and languages
119. The Comisión Jurídica para el Autodesarrollo de los Pueblos Originarios Andinos
noted its efforts to advance the use of Aymara language in some Chilean municipal schools
to revitalize traditional culture.
Non-discrimination and equality
120. The Centro de Promoción y Desarrollo Rural Amazónico noted that it was working
to promote equal opportunities and non-discrimination in the hiring of indigenous health
technicians by the regional health directorate of Ucayali, Peru. Its efforts to do so were
consistent with the Declaration and with technical standards regarding the mainstreaming of
intercultural approaches to health, particularly with regard to those health practitioners
working in indigenous communities.
Lands, territories and resources
121. The National Native Title Council noted its advocacy for the Government of
Australia to enshrine the principles of the Declaration in the development of the Murray
Darling Basin plan, especially with regard to the right of indigenous peoples to maintain
and strengthen their distinctive relationship with their lands, territories, waters, coastal seas
and other resources. In relation to the plan, the Council, together with its partners, was also
undertaking the national cultural flows research project, which incorporated the principles
of the Declaration, especially article 32, paragraph 1.
Treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements with States
122. The Comisión Jurídica para el Autodesarrollo de los Pueblos Originarios Andinos
noted its sponsorship of the Awuayala Tribunal of Justice, a body whose decisions, while
not binding, appealed to the conscience and reasoning of humanity. The Tribunal, hosted by
the Kallawaya Nation in the Plurinational State of Bolivia, held its first hearing in June
2012 to hear the demand of the Jacha Suyu Pakajaki Nation to reclaim territories taken on
the basis of the doctrine of discovery.
C.
Consideration of the Declaration when devising new laws and policies
or other measures that affect indigenous individuals
123. Several indigenous peoples’ organizations reported that the Declaration was not
routinely taken into account in State efforts to devise laws, policies or other measures that
affect indigenous peoples. In some cases, this was attributed to the lack of recognition of
indigenous peoples in the country or the view that indigenous peoples were an impediment
to development. In some cases indigenous peoples’ organizations had made unsuccessful
efforts to encourage States to adopt specific legal, policy and other measures to implement
the Declaration.
124. A number of indigenous peoples’ organizations noted their own use of the
Declaration as a basis for setting standards and in advocacy. The Sami Parliament of
Norway, for example, used the Declaration and other international standards on a daily
basis in its work. The National Indian Youth Council incorporated the declaration
systematically in its discourse and work.
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