Image: Tammy Solonec reading the statement at the EMRIP meeting.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples attending the 3rd session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) meeting in Geneva this week recommended to the Experts to call upon the Human Rights Council to urge states to initiate constitutional reform to ensure freedom from discrimination and equality before the law. This, they stated, can be achieved through dedicated seats in Parliament for Indigenous peoples, and preambular recognition of Indigenous peoples as traditional owners in the Constitution.

The delegates also recommended to the Experts that countries adopt parliamentary scrutiny of bills processes to ensure they are critically analysed against compliance with international human rights obligations, including the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The scrutiny process, they stated, could also be a process to determine the disproportionate impact of Bills on Indigenous peoples including the inequitable distribution of funding.

The delegates also recommended the immediate resourcing and development of national interpreter services for Indigenous languages; and the adoption measures to build the capacity of Indigenous individuals and groups to actively participate in government both horizontally and vertically,including measures to assist in overcoming poverty, disadvantage and trauma.

A full copy of this statement and all other statements made by Aboriginal and Torres Islander peoples organisations and the Australian Government can be found here.

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.