Peru / Indigenous peoples: Consultation law marks key step forward in the country and region, says UN expert

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GENEVA (25 August 2011) – The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya, today say the approval of a law on consultation with indigenous peoples by the Congress of Peru “represents an important step forward for indigenous peoples’ rights in the country and elsewhere in the Latin American region.

“I hope that this is indicative of a strong commitment by the Peruvian State to respond to the demands of indigenous peoples to be consulted about measures that directly affect them, and in particular about extractive industry projects in and around their territories,” Mr. Anaya stressed.

“Now I urge the President of the Republic to promulgate the consultation law”, the Special Rapporteur said, “and call upon the Government to take all necessary measures to ensure the adequate implementation of this law”.

The UN expert congratulated the Congress of Peru on its approval of the consultation law (Ley de derecho a la consulta previa a los pueblos indígenas u originarios reconocido en el Convenio No. 169 de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo). “I am pleased that the law was passed unanimously by the Congress, with no votes against it and no abstentions”, Mr. Anaya said.

On 26 March 2008, the United Nations Human Rights Council appointed S. James Anaya Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for an itinitail period of there 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://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/rapporteur/

OHCHR Country page– Peru: http://www.ohchr.org/SP/Countries/LACRegion/Pages/PEIndex.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 Thierry del Prado Tel: +41 22 917 92 32 / email: tdelprado@ohchr.org) or write to: indigenous@ohchr.org

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