A/HRC/30/54
II. Responses from States and from indigenous peoples
7.
This section summarizes the responses from States and from indigenous peoples to
the questionnaire. It must be borne in mind that responses from States and indigenous
peoples may have conflicting views on the benefits of measures adopted to implement the
Declaration or the ideal strategies to achieve its implementation.
A.
National implementation strategies
8.
The questionnaire posed the following question to States: “Does the State have an
overarching national implementation strategy to attain the goals of the Declaration? If yes,
please provide details, including the involvement of State institutions and indigenous
peoples. If not, are there any plans to develop one?”
9.
This question is linked to the commitment made by States in the outcome document
of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, through their own representative
institutions, to develop and implement national action plans, strategies or other measures
and, where relevant, to achieve the ends of the Declaration.
10.
Most States that responded did not have an overarching national implementation
strategy specifically linked to attaining the goals of the Declaration. However, in their
responses they discussed how the situation and rights of indigenous peoples are addressed
through national development strategies, as well as programmes and policies in specific
sectors, such as health and education.
11.
Guatemala discussed the “K’atun Nuestra Guatemala 2032” strategy, which was
prepared with the participation and consultation of the three different indigenous peoples in
Guatemala: the Maya, Garifuna and Xinka. The plan guided the work of the State by
focusing on reducing the gaps in access to education, improving overall health and
improving access to water and basic sanitation. In addition, Guatemala’s response
highlighted that from 2013 onwards, the National Budget Law stipulated that budgetexecuting agencies needed to provide information regarding the beneficiary population of
their programmes, including in terms of ethnicity.
12.
In Costa Rica, the Vice-Ministry of Political Affairs had a strategy on indigenous
peoples based on four axes: a consultation policy; a policy for the recovery of lands,
territories and resources; a mechanism for dialogue with the 24 indigenous territories in the
country; and inter-institutional coordination. Costa Rica’s response also examined several
sector-specific initiatives relating to indigenous peoples in the areas of health, education
and employment.
13.
Those States that did not have a national strategy nonetheless reported on measures
they had taken to ensure that the goals of the Declaration were considered in policy and
programme development. Australia, for example, noted that relevant Government agencies
liaised closely on relevant issues to ensure the Declaration was taken into account.
14.
Japan’s response highlighted the establishment of a high-level Advisory Council for
Future Ainu Policy, which referred to relevant provisions of the Declaration. This Council
developed basic principles for new Ainu policy. Subsequently, Japan established the
Council for Ainu Policy Promotion to discuss comprehensive and effective measures for
Ainu people, which reflected the opinions of the Ainu people.
15.
Paraguay noted that it had a National Human Rights Plan, which sought, inter alia,
to address structural inequalities and discrimination in conformity with the goals of the
Declaration.
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