Helena Nyberg, International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, former Executive Director, UN Liaison underscored the need to urgently realise one of the most important rights of indigenous peoples – the right to self-determination.
‘Today, we honour the 30th International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and underscore the need for the urgent realisation of one of the most important rights of indigenous peoples – the right to self-determination. INCOMINDIOS, a Swiss-based human rights organisation defending the rights of indigenous peoples of North, Central and South America, was founded exactly 50 years ago at the UN headquarters in Geneva. ‘The International Indian Treaty Council, which is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, wanted to have allies in Europe and so founded the ‘International Committee for Indians of the Americas’ – today’s INCOMINDIOS,’- she noted.
Mrs Helena noted that all these years they have supported the rights-based economic, political, social and cultural rights of not only the indigenous peoples of the Americas, but have also committed themselves to unite indigenous peoples from around the world at the UN.
‘Our policy is to listen to and spread the voices of indigenous peoples and to advocate for their rights, but not to speak or act on their behalf. In past years, we have also strongly supported the cases of the Crimean Tatars, the peoples of Hawaii and Alaska, the Wetsu’vietn of British Columbia in Canada, the Wai’uu and Pijao in Colombia, the Havasupai in Arizona, USA, and political prisoner Leonard Peltier imprisoned in the USA,’ – the expert added.
‘We express our solidarity and good wishes to the indigenous peoples of the world, hoping that our joint efforts will continue to ensure full respect for the rights and well-being of all peoples,’ – Helena Nyberg emphasised.