UNRISD is organizing a series of consultation and dissemination meetings for the project “Identity, Power and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”. This series of meetings will bring together academics, NGOs, indigenous peoples and government representatives to discuss disparities of power evident in interactions between governments, international institutions and indigenous peoples in Peru, Bolivia, India, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, the Philippines, Australia and Canada.
Neoliberal policies promoted by governments, the World Bank and the IDB to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development have undermined the capacity of indigenous communities to safeguard their way of life and culture. In addition, international charters and national legislation fail to protect the rights of indigenous communities, while asymmetries of power have contributed to the creation of a “new poor” and growing degradation of the environment.
The key questions to be addressed at these meetings include:
• How should disparities of power between indigenous communities, governments, multi-national corporations and international agencies be addressed?
• What reforms are required to create inclusive consultative platforms that allow indigenous peoples to participate in decisions that affect their way of life?
• How can institutions be structured in order to recognize the rights of indigenous peoples while not negating the rights of the rest of the population?
Members of the public are encouraged to attend the meetings.
Meeting Schedule
9 June 2008 - Lagos, Nigeria
Hosted by Nigerian Institute of International Affairs
Presenters:
Terence Gomez, UNRISD
Ben Naanen, University of Port Harcourt
Event Flyer
28 May 2008 - Auckland, New Zealand
Hosted by Auckland University
Presenters:
Suzana Sawyer, University of California-Davis
Jon Altman, Australian National University
Megan Davis, University of New South Wales
Event Flyer
12 March 2008 – Cusco, Peru
Hosted by Centro Bartolomé de las Casas
Presenters:
Terence Gomez, UNRISD
Patricia Urteaga-Crovetto, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru
Thomas Perreault, Syracuse University
English flyer
Spanish flyer
10 March 2008 – Lima, Peru
Hosted by Instituto de Democracia y Derechos Humanos, Universidad Católica del Peru
Presenters:
Terence Gomez, UNRISD
Patricia Urteaga-Crovetto, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru
Thomas Perreault, Syracuse University
English flyer
Spanish flyer