Mercy Global Concern - 2005

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Mercy Global Concern: Briefing paper 1, June 2005

Many speakers stressed the need for governments to fulfil their commitments to follow a rights-based approach to development and the reduction of poverty, emphasizing the benefits of adhering to fundamental human rights.  They stressed that indigenous peoples must be involved in drawing up Millennium Goal poverty reduction strategy papers.  In addition, several focused on environmental issues and poverty.

The session was opened with a traditional procession of indigenous Peruvian children and youth, accompanied by harp and violin. Radford Quamahongwewa, War Chief and Spokesperson for the elders and leaders of the Hopi Indian Nation village of Shangopaui, then offered words of blessing in his native tongue.

Following are the central issues that concern Indigenous peoples at this time:

• The resistance of some countries to approve the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
  
• Because they hold things in common, the issue of collective versus individual property rights affecting intellectual property, stewardship of the biodiversity within their lands; traditional knowledge being pirated for profit by corporations.
  
• The critical need for mother-tongue as the medium for education and as a tool for competence, self-esteem and poverty eradication.
  
• In the rush to meet the Millennium Development Goals, models of development must be respectful of indigenous values and world-vision.
  
• The principle of free, prior and informed consent must underpin all development negotiations with non-indigenous actors.
  

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