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Davide named UN facilitator for indigenous peoples


Three months into his job as Philippine representative to the United Nations, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. was appointed UN facilitator for forging a declaration to help improve the lives of over 370 million indigenous people worldwide. The Department of Foreign Affairs (www.dfa.gov.ph) said Tuesday night that UN General Assembly president Haya Rashed Al Khalifa appointed Davide to undertake consultations on the proposed UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. "I am honored by President Al Khalifa's decision to bestow upon me such an important responsibility," Davide said, adding that the Declaration will also impact on the more than 12 million indigenous peoples of the Philippines. Davide said he is looking forward to conducting open and inclusive consultations on the issue soon so he could submit his report to President Al Khalifa before the July 15 deadline given to him. The UN General Assembly was supposed to approve the Declaration in December following its adoption by the UN Human Rights Council on June 29 last year. But the approval process in the General Assembly was stalled after African member states requested more time for consultations on their concerns. However, the UN said the Declaration has to be considered before the end of the 61st Session of the General Assembly in September 2007 and member states will have to come back together to act again on the Declaration. "The Philippines is sympathetic to the sentiment that the indigenous peoples of the world cannot anymore afford a protracted process leading to the adopting of the Declaration," Davide said. He stressed the need for an instrument that recognizes the need to address the special situation of indigenous peoples. Al Khalifa, in her letter to all permanent representatives to the UN, sought flexible consultations, and urged them to provide Davide with all the necessary support to ensure the General Assembly will finally approve the Declaration. - GMANews.TV

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