Courtesy of the African Commission.

With a view to sharing experiences, synchronizing efforts, and further enhancing collaboration between the various regional and international mechanisms working on the rights of indigenous peoples, the African Commission’s Working Group on Indigenous Populations/ Communities, in collaboration with the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, organized an Exchange Workshop on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Between the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights from 5 to 6 April 2013 in Banjul, The Gambia.

The workshop brought together experts from the three regions and regional organizations and the United Nations. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Prof. James Anaya, was present during the workshop and made the keynote address. The UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues, Ms. Rita Izsák, also attended. 

The workshop provided a platform for the exchange of experiences between the three regional organizations and that of the UN; it also provided the opportunity for these organs to lay down the grounds for future collaboration and cooperation, and synchronization of their efforts in the promotion and protection of indigenous peoples’ rights. The final communique is available here.

First bi-annual meeting held in Banjul, The Gambia

Following the above exchange workshop, the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa held its first bi-annual meeting for the year 2013 from 7 to 8 April 2013 in Banjul, The Gambia. During this meeting the WGIP assessed activities undertaken during the intersession, and mapped out activities for the next intersession period. It met with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Prof. James Anaya, the UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues, Ms. Rita Izsák, and Commissioner Rafendi Djamin of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights and discussed various issues of common interest. The Working Group also met with representatives of indigenous populations/communities from Kenya, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and deliberated on the situation of indigenous communities in these countries.