HC Deb 27 November 1996 vol 286 c293W
Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the United Nations draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples; what discussions his Department are currently involved in on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [5894]

Sir Nicholas Bonsor

We attach importance to the early adoption by the United Nations of an effective declaration to help protect the rights of indigenous people worldwide. We participate in the UN's working group tasked with producing a declaration and are contributing to the drafting of a suitable text.

Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of when the United Nations draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples will be adopted. [5896]

Sir Nicholas Bonsor

A UN working group on indigenous populations is still working on the draft declaration on the rights of indigenous people. The latest draft has been sent to Governments and others for comment. We hope that the declaration can be completed and agreed by the end of 2004 at the very latest.

Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards a United Nations draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples; and if he will make a statement. [5895]

Sir Nicholas Bonsor

Last year, the UN Commission on Human Rights referred a draft declaration on the rights of indigenous people to a working group for further work. The working group has met twice, but progress has been slow. Once agreed, the text will be submitted to the Commission for Human Rights, then to the Economic and Social Council and finally to the UN General Assembly. We hope the declaration can be completed and agreed by the end of 2004.