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International and regional guidance
13. The April 2020 United Nations framework for the immediate socioeconomic
response to COVID-19 6 acknowledges that indigenous peoples are among the m ost
at-risk, experiencing the highest degree of socioeconomic marginalization and
requiring specific attention in the immediate development response. The framework
also highlights that social cohesion and community-led resilience and response
systems are particularly relevant for indigenous peoples; it includes as an indicator
for monitoring human rights implications of COVID-19 the mapping out of
populations at risk and the existence of special measures for the protection of
indigenous peoples (see annex 1 to the framework). The United Nations Entity for
Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) has proposed
additional analysis to help make indigenous women and girls visible in the
implementation of this system-wide framework to manage the crisis. 7
14. The Office of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) 8
and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 9 have issued
recommendations specifically applicable to indigenous peoples during and in the
aftermath of the pandemic. The International Labour Organization (ILO) issued a
policy brief 10 and the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues
published a guidance note for the United Nations system. 11 The Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights adopted a resolution on human rights and the
pandemic, including recommendations to protect indigenous peoples’ rights. 12 The
Organization of American States (OAS) General Secretariat urged member States to
generate specific programmes and policies to sustain the economies of their
indigenous communities 13 and dedicated parts of its Practical Guide to Inclusive and
Rights-Based Responses to COVID-19 in the Americas to the need for a differentiated
response for indigenous peoples. 14 The Working Group on Indigenous Populations/
Communities in Africa of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
issued recommendations related to access to health services, water and sanitation and
urged States to take into account indigenous peoples’ way of life in all decisions taken
for the prevention of COVID-19. 15 The Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe issued a set of recommendations on short-term responses to COVID-19 that
support social cohesion. 16
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10
11
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Available at https://unsdg.un.org/resources/un-framework-immediate-socio-economic-responsecovid-19.
See https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2020/
04/Prioritizing-indigenous-women-in-the-MPTF-April-2020.-UN-Women.pdf.
See https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/IPeoples/OHCHRGuidance_COVID19_
IndigenousPeoplesRights.pdf.
See http://www.fao.org/indigenous-peoples/covid-19/en.
Available at https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/indigenous-tribal/publications/WCMS_746893/
lang--en/index.htm.
Available at https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/wp-content/uploads/sites/
19/2020/04/Indigenous-peoples-and-COVID_IASG_23.04.2020-EN.pdf.
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, resolution 1/2020. Available at
https://www.oas.org/en/iachr/decisions/pdf/Resolution-1-20-en.pdf.
See https://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=E -029/20.
See http://www.oas.org/es/sadye/publicaciones/GUIDE_ENG.pdf and submission by OAS.
See https://www.achpr.org/pressrelease/detail?id=493.
See https://www.osce.org/hcnm/449170.
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