Rights of indigenous peoples
A/RES/72/155
Bearing in mind the importance of the empowerment and capacity-building of
indigenous women and youth, including their full and effective participation in
decision-making processes in matters that affect them directly, including policies,
programmes and resources, where relevant, that target the well -being of indigenous
women, children and youth, in particular in the areas of health, education,
employment and the transmission of traditional knowledge, languages and practices,
and the importance of taking measures to promote awareness and understanding of
their rights,
Deeply concerned at the vast number of endangered languages, in particular
indigenous languages, and stressing that, despite the continuing efforts, there is an
urgent need to preserve, promote and revitalize endangered languages, in particular
indigenous languages,
Recognizing the importance to indigenous peoples of revitalizing, using,
developing and transmitting to future generations their histories, languages, oral
traditions, philosophies, writing systems and literature,
Expressing concern that, in some cases, suicide rates in indigenous peoples’
communities, in particular among indigenous youth and children, are significantly
higher than in the general population,
Bearing in mind the importance of promoting respect for the rights of
indigenous children, in particular eliminating the worst forms of child labour, in
accordance with international law, including relevant human rights law and
international labour law obligations,
Recognizing the importance of access to justice in the promotion and protection
of the rights of indigenous peoples and individuals and the need to examine and take
steps to remove obstacles to justice, especially for indigenous women, indigenous
children, youth, older persons and indigenous persons with disabilities,
Underlining the responsibility of transnational corporations and other business
enterprises to respect all human rights, applicable laws and international principles 10
and operate transparently and in a socially and environmentally responsible manner,
and emphasizing the need to refrain from negatively affecting the well -being of
indigenous peoples and to take further action towards corporate responsibility and
accountability, including the prevention, mitigation and remediation of human rights
abuses,
Recognizing the importance of free, prior and informed consent, as outlined in
the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and noting that
the next study of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will
focus on the theme of free, prior and informed consent,
Recognizing also the value and the diversity of the cultures and the form of
social organization of indigenous peoples and their holistic traditional knowledge of
their lands, natural resources and environment,
Recognizing further 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 and health-care
services, 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,
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17-22961 (E)
Including the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United
Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework (A/HRC/17/31, annex).
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