16.08.2007

Rebecca Sommer’s Special Event in New York a Full Success

Discussion on the "UN Declaration On The Rights of Indigenous Peoples”

More than 200 people attended the event, leaving no seat untaken. Elsa Stamatopoulou, Acting Chief, Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, as well as numerous representatives from UN Missions – including two of the German Mission to the UN – came to see the event co-sponsored by Society for Threatened Peoples and organized by our New York representative Rebecca Sommer.

The especially awaited film screening of Rebecca Sommer’s documentation Discussions on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was followed by a lively Question and Answer Panel, moderated by Dr. Jonas Jølle from the Permanent Mission of Norway. Guest speakers at the discussion were Connie Taracena Secaira from the Permanent Mission of Guatemala, Tonya Gonella Frichner, member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) 2008, Les Malezer, Chair of the Global Indigenous Caucus, and Enrique Ochoa from the Permanent Mission of Mexico.

The U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is now at 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.

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
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