09. August 2007
Amid the day-long agenda full of cultural events, panels and speeches planned for the upcoming celebration of United Nations International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on 9 August, 2007, at the UN Headquarters in New York, a significant event will take place regarding the most pressing priority issue affecting the world’s indigenous peoples – the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is now in its most critical stage after 22 years. A decision affecting the future and survival of indigenous peoples from all around the world will be made in September by the Member States at the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

For that reason an important special event – cosponsored by Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) International – will take place on Thursday, August 9, 2007, at 217 E. 42nd Street. At 1:00 p.m. the one-hour documentary "Discussions On The UN Declaration On The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples” by our New York-based representative Rebecca Sommer will be shown. Afterwards special guest presentations by representatives of Member States and indigenous peoples’ organizations follow. A question and answer period is scheduled, too.

Interested members of the media, the public, and representatives of Member States, UN Agencies, indigenous peoples’ organizations and other non-governmental organizations have been invited to attend.

Rebecca Sommer’s film

"Discussions On The UN Declaration On The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples”

is a one-hour documentary on one of the most-discussed pieces of legislation in UN history. For over 20 years, governments and indigenous peoples have discussed how to apply the universal declaration of Human Rights to the specific situations of indigenous peoples. This desperately needed Declaration, which articulates only the most basic of needs, was nonetheless rejected in November 2006. However, it will be given a new chance in September 2007 at the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

In the work-in-progress film, governmental and indigenous leaders present their issues of concern and their implications for the future.


Guest Speakers at the Special Event

• Connie Taracena, Permanent Mission of Guatemala


• Les Malezer, Chair of the Global Indigenous Caucus


• Enrique Ochoa, Permanent Mission of Mexico


• Tonya Frichner, UN PFII member 2008