United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)

Photo taken right after the adoption of the Declaration on 13 September 2007

Did You Know: The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the General Assembly on Thursday, 13 September 2007, by a majority of 144 states in favor, 4 votes against (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States). The Declaration is the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. It establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the Indigenous Peoples of the world and it elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms as they apply to the specific situation of Indigenous Peoples. The United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP) was among those Indigenous Peoples organizations consistently advocating for the adoption of the Declaration and was a regional leader galvanizing support from the Caribbean States and Caribbean Indigenous Peoples communities, groups, and organizations. UCTP representative R. Múkaro Agueibaná Borrero was in attendance at the United Nations General Assembly Hall the day of the historic adoption. 

- © 2018 UCTP Taíno News 

References

Assembly, U. N. G. (2007). United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly (A/RES/61/295). United Nations.

Charters, C., & Stavenhagen, R. (Eds.). (2009). Making the declaration work: The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. IWGIA.

UN International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Roberto Múkaro Borrero, holding the
microphone serves as master of ceremonies
for the UN International Day
 of the World's Indigenous Peoples
at UN Headquarters in 1998.
Photo: Holder Thoss

DID YOU KNOW: On 23 December 1994, the United Nations General Assembly decided, in its resolution 49/214, that the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples shall be observed on 9 August every year. The date marks the day of the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations.

The first official observance took place in 1995 at United Nations Headquarters in NY. A Taíno, Roberto Múkaro Borrero, served as the first Master of Ceremonies for the event, representing “El Consejo General de Tainos Borincanos.”

Borrero, filmmaker Alex Zacarias, the Kasibahagua Taíno Cultural Society and other Taíno have since continued to participate in subsequent commemorations of the Day for over 20 years helping to raise the visibility of Taíno and other Caribbean Indigenous Peoples at the international level. 

– © 2018 UCTP Taíno News 

References

United Nations General Assembly. (1994). International Decade of the World's Indigenous People: Resolution / adopted by the General Assembly, 23 December 1994, A/RES/49/214.

United Nations Department of Public Information. (1997). United Nations to observe International day of world's indigenous people, 7-8 August [Press Release No. HR/4322].