A/HRC/27/67
National Indian Youth Council reported on its advocacy work among urban indigenous
peoples.
111. Some indigenous peoples’ organizations noted that their implementation strategies
included engagement with the United Nations system, in some instances bringing cases
before treaty bodies and in others participating actively in international activities and
mechanisms related to the rights of indigenous peoples, such as the Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the universal periodic review and the Expert
Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to secure compliance with the goals of the
Declaration.
112. The primary strategy of the National Native Title Council was to advocate for
Governments and other organizations to reference actively the principles and goals of the
Declaration. This process entailed, inter alia, the inclusion of indigenous representation in
relevant legislative, policy and administrative processes, the promotion of the principle of
free, prior and informed consent for traditional land owners and making agreements on
issues and developments affecting traditional lands and territories.
113. Several indigenous peoples’ organizations indicated that strategies to implement the
Declaration were in place, but did not describe them in detail, while several others noted
that that they did not have specific strategies.
B.
Specific legal, policy or other measures to implement the rights in the
Declaration
114. In some cases, indigenous peoples’ organizations were not aware of any measures
adopted by their respective national Governments to implement the Declaration. Several
organizations noted that they had made efforts, without success, to encourage States to
adopt specific measures for implementation.
115. One organization noted that the national Government was preparing legislation that
would address indigenous issues and that indigenous peoples were being consulted,
however, the process was considered to be inconsistent with the Declaration. The proposed
bill did not mention the Declaration.
116. In terms of measures taken by indigenous Governments, while the Declaration was
not mentioned specifically in the resolution of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe that created the
Community for the Advancement of Native Studies, the work of the organization was
intended to implement the Declaration.
Self-determination and autonomy
117. The Comisión Jurídica para el Autodesarrollo de los Pueblos Originarios Andinos
noted that the 15 annual assemblies of the parliament of the Qollana Aymara people of the
Andes had been held in accordance with the form of self-government as envisioned under
the ayllu-marka system. Practising traditional forms of governance provided guarantees for
its continuity, even where it was not recognized by States.
Participation in decision-making, including the obligation to seek to obtain the free,
prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples
118. One organization noted evidence of the lack of commitment by the Government to
upholding the principle of free, prior and informed consent, citing the example of the
development by the State of a plan that, although set out as a strategy to attain the goals of
the Declaration, was flawed. In particular, the free, prior and informed consent of
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