Indigenous delegates attending the 3rd Session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) met with the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights Ms Navi Pillay.

Indigenous delegates were represented through one of the seven geo-cultural regions of the world were represented.  The Pacific was represented by Mick Gooda, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, and Les Malezer, Chairperson for the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action (FAIRA).

Mr Malezer summarised his concerns, including those on the Northern Territory 'intervention', in a one-page document which was handed to the High Commissioner. 

At invitation by the Australian Government, The High Commissioner may soon visit Australia. The High Commissioner is keen to visit Australia and the region, and will be disappointed if pending elections in Australia will cause her to cancel her visit to Australia, PNG and other locations.  The High Commissioner mentioned that she will also soon visit Russia and  expressed an interest in the situation of Indigenous Peoples in that region also.

Mr Malezer extended an invitation for the High Commissioner to visit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and indicated that a letter will be sent to her by the Indigenous Peoples Organisations (IPO).

The High Commissioner thanked the delegations and assured them that she was taking seriously these representations from Indigenous  Peoples.  Ms Pillay referred to actions she has taken to improve  resources for the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other matters presented by the delegations last year.

Copies of Mr Malezer's one page brief to the UN High Commissioner can be found in the document link to the 3rd Session of EMRIP here.

Acknowledgements: this article was written based on an email from Mr Malezer.