GENEVA (24 November 2011) - The UN Special Rapporteur James Anaya will visit Argentina from 27 November to 7 December 2011 to discuss the general situation of the country’s indigenous peoples, including issues such as their right to lands and natural resources.
“During my mission, I will analyze the situation of indigenous peoples, who are among the most vulnerable and marginalized groups worldwide,” said Mr. Anaya upon announcing the first visit to Argentina by an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate the rights of indigenous peoples.
“I hope this visit will help to give visibility to the concerns of indigenous peoples in Argentina, concerns are often ignored by mainstream societies in which indigenous peoples live,” the Special Rapporteur stressed.
During his eleven-day visit, Mr. Anaya will meet with officials of the Government of Argentina and indigenous representatives in the city of Buenos Aires and the provinces of Neuquén, Rio Negro, Salta, Jujuy and Formosa.
Following his visit to Argentina, the Special Rapporteur will prepare a report with key findings and recommendations on the issues studied during the mission, which will be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in 2012.
Mr. Anaya will hold a press conference at the end of his mission on Wednesday, 7 December at 18:00 am in the office of the United Nations Development Programme in Buenos Aires, Esmeralda 130,13th Floor.
On 26 March 2008, the United Nations Human Rights Council appointed S. James Anaya Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for an initial period of three years. The Council renewed his mandate for an additional three years in 2011. Relator Especial los derechos de los pueblos indígenas, por un período inicial de tres años. Mr. Anaya is a Regents Professor and the James J. Lenoir Professor of Human Rights Law and Policy at the University of Arizona (United States).
Learn more about the mandate and work of the Special Rapporteur: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/SRIndigenousPeoples/Pages/SRIPeoplesIndex.aspx
Check the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N06/512/07/PDF/N0651207.pdf?OpenElement
For more information and press inquiries, please contact:
UN Human Rights Regional Office for South America: Jennifer Ross: +562 321 7750 / jross@ohchr.org
In Buenos Aires: unic.buenosaires@unic.org
In Geneva: Maia Campbell (Tel.: + 41 22 917 9314 / email: mcampbell@ohchr.org) or write to: indigenous@ohchr.org.
For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, OHCHR Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)
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