Monday, May 30, 2022

OMPI: DECLARACIÓN DE APERTURA DEL CAUCUS INDÍGENA 30 MAYO DE 2022


CIG 43 de la OMPI
DECLARACIÓN DE APERTURA DEL CAUCUS INDÍGENA

30 de mayo de 2022

 

 DESCARGAR PDF

 

Gracias, señora presidenta.

 

Hablo en nombre del Caucus Indígena. Queremos felicitarla por su nombramiento como presidenta del CIG. Estamos seguros de que bajo su mandato el tema de pueblos indígenas estará reflejado en sus recomendaciones.

 

Reafirmamos que los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas están vinculados a los derechos humanos y colectivos de nuestros pueblos, incluyendo la relación sagrada con nuestros territorios, tierras y recursos, y la transmisión del conocimiento ancestral y la espiritualidad.


En este periodo de sesiones del CIG, instamos a los Estados a respetar el llamado del Foro Permanente de la ONU y otros mecanismos de la ONU a aplicar la Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas, para lograr los fines en armonía con los marcos jurídicos internacionales alcanzados. En este sentido, destacamos que los Pueblos Indígenas no son una mera parte interesada, sino los tenedores de derecho soberanos.


El mes pasado, el Foro Permanente realizó declaraciones expresas durante su 21mo periodo de sesiones en cuanto a la necesidad de respaldar una mayor participación indígena en la OMPI y el CIG. A este fin, agradecemos a los Estados que han brindado apoyo al Fondo Voluntario. En 2019, el Foro Permanente recomendó que la OMPI utilice fondos de su presupuesto principal para hacer frente a la necesidad continua de lograr una participación Indígena eficaz. Continuamos respaldando dicha recomendación.

 

Subrayamos que el objetivo y la materia del/de los instrumento/s, que abordaremos esta semana, no solo se limite a la protección de los recursos genéticos y conocimientos tradicionales en el sistema de patentes, sino también a los otros ámbitos relacionados con los derechos de propiedad intelectual. Creemos que el instrumento debería incluir derivados e información de secuenciación digital. El enfoque de revisión (reflejado en el texto del Presidente, artículo 9), que exigiría que las partes revisen el alcance del instrumento y el carácter aplicable a los derivados y otras tecnologías nuevas y emergentes dentro de los 4 años siguientes a la adopción del instrumento, es un buen modo para hacer avanzar las negociaciones.


Recomendamos que el examen de patentes no se limite al cumplimiento de los 3 requisitos exigibles universalmente, sino también al requisito de cumplimiento de acceso legal al conocimiento tradicional, en cuanto al consentimiento libre, previo e informado de los Pueblos Indígenas y las comunidades locales, así como la divulgación del origen de los recursos genéticos y los conocimientos tradicionales asociados.


Destacamos los avances de medidas preventivas y sanciones por la apropiación indebida de los conocimientos y enfatizamos en la necesidad de una protección a largo plazo para salvaguardar nuestros saberes.


Recomendamos enérgicamente que el Comité cree un grupo de trabajo sobre bases de datos y sistemas de información para crear recomendaciones para este Comité, con la participación plena y eficaz de los Pueblos Indígenas. Estamos de acuerdo en que las bases de datos pueden ser útiles como medida complementaria, pero sin las salvaguardas adecuadas, implican un riesgo mayor de apropiación indebida, uso indebido y daños a los Pueblos Indígenas. Durante el CIG42, subrayamos tres principios rectores para el desarrollo de salvaguardas para bases de datos y sistemas de información:

1) el consentimiento libre, previo e informado;
2) no hacer daño, y
3) el derecho al acceso/eliminación/corrección de información. Si se añaden Conocimientos Tradicionales no publicados a las bases de datos y sistemas de información, se debe contar con el consentimiento libre, previo e informado de los Pueblos Indígenas.

 

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Sunday, May 29, 2022

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Ayotzinapa: May 26, 2022 Open Letter to Arizona Senators Sinema and Kelly





TONATIERRA
Human Rights Commission

PO Box 24009  Phoenix, AZ 85074 
www.tonatierra.org 
Contact: Tupac Enrique Acosta

chantlaca@tonatierra.org


 

May 26, 2022


Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema

3333 E. Camelback Rd, Suite 200

Phoenix, Arizona 85018

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly

2201 E. Camelback Rd, Suite 115

Phoenix, AZ 85016



Dear Arizona Senators Synema and Kelly,

 

On September 24, 2021, we submitted a Freedom of Information Request along with the WATER PROTECTOR LEGAL COLLECTIVE requesting disclosure of records related to the case of the Forced Disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa students on September 26, 2014, in Iguala Guerrero, Mexico.


On May 24, 2021, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador communicated he had received files from the United States regarding the investigation of the 2014 Ayotzinapa disappearances and subsequent criminal coverup by officials of the Mexican government. President Lopez Obrador received these files after a virtual meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris on May 7, 2021.  


The TONATIERRA Human Rights Commission has accompanied the parents and families of the 43 Ayotzinapa students for over seven years now in their attempts to bring accountability and justice to the case.

 

Although we have sent this message to both of your offices on December 26, 2021, via the email address provided on your website and the message has been confirmed to have been received, we have not had any substantive response from either of you regarding our request for assistance in terms of bringing to light the relevant information as outlined our initial FOI request.

 

We shall follow up with your offices to arrange for a meeting to discuss the particulars of the human rights issues involved.

 

Sincerely,

Tupac Enrique Acosta

TONATIERRA

 


PRESS RELEASE

Comisión Permanente Ayotzinapa

TONATIERRA Submits Freedom of Information Request to the Biden administration for US government files on the investigation of the Forced Disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa students missing since September 26, 2014, in Mexico

Phoenix, Arizona – Today a Freedom of Information Act request was formally submitted to the Biden Administration by TONATIERRA and the WATER PROTECTOR LEGAL COLLECTIVE soliciting disclosure of the files related to the US government’s investigation into the Forced Disappearance of the 43 students from Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers’ College missing since September 26, 2014.


YouTube:

AyotzinapArizona 26 diciembre 2021:

¡Ni perdón, Ni olvido!

************


TONATIERRA

Comisión de Derechos Humanos

PO Box 24009 Phoenix, AZ 85074

www.tonatierra.org

Contacto: Tupac
Enrique Acosta

chantlaca@tonatierra.org

 

 

26 mayo de 2022

 

Senadora de Arizona Kyrsten Sinema

3333 E. Camelback Rd, Suite 200

Fénix, Arizona 85018

 

Senador de Arizona Mark Kelly

2201 E. Camelback Rd, Suite 115

Fénix, Arizona 85018

 

Estimados Senadores Sinema y Kelly,

 

El 24 de septiembre de 2021 presentamos una Solicitud de Libertad de Información (FOI) junto con el COLECTIVO LEGAL PROTECTOR DEL AGUA solicitando la divulgación de antecedentes relacionados con el caso de la Desaparición Forzada de los 43 estudiantes de Ayotzinapa el 26 de septiembre de 2014, en Iguala Guerrero, México.


El 24 de mayo de 2021, el presidente mexicano, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, comunicó que había recibido archivos de Estados Unidos sobre la investigación de las desapariciones de Ayotzinapa en 2014 y el subsiguiente encubrimiento criminal por parte de funcionarios del gobierno mexicano. El presidente López Obrador recibió estos archivos luego de una reunión virtual con la Vicepresidenta Kamala Harris el 7 de mayo de 2021.


La Comisión de Derechos Humanos de TONATIERRA ha acompañado a los padres y familiares de los 43 estudiantes de Ayotzinapa desde hace más de siete años en su intento de llevar la rendición de cuentas y la justicia al caso.


Aunque enviamos este mensaje a sus dos oficinas el 26 de diciembre de 2021, a través de la dirección de correo electrónico proporcionada en su sitio web y se confirmó que se recibió el mensaje, no hemos recibido ninguna respuesta sustancial de ninguno de ustedes con respecto a nuestra solicitud por asistencia en términos de sacar a la luz la información relevante como se describe en nuestra solicitud inicial de FOI.


Haremos un seguimiento con sus oficinas para organizar una reunión para discutir los detalles de los problemas de derechos humanos involucrados.


Atentamente,

 

Tupac Enrique Acosta

TONATIERRA




Ayotzinapa: 26 mayo 2022 Carta Abierta a Senadores Sinema y Kelly [Arizona]




26 mayo de 2022

 

Senadora de Arizona Kyrsten Sinema

3333 E. Camelback Rd, Suite 200

Fénix, Arizona 85018

 

Senador de Arizona Mark Kelly

2201 E. Camelback Rd, Suite 115

Fénix, Arizona 85018

 

Estimados Senadores Sinema y Kelly,

 

El 24 de septiembre de 2021 presentamos una Solicitud de Libertad de Información (FOI) junto con el COLECTIVO LEGAL PROTECTOR DEL AGUA solicitando la divulgación de antecedentes relacionados con el caso de la Desaparición Forzada de los 43 estudiantes de Ayotzinapa el 26 de septiembre de 2014, en Iguala Guerrero, México.


El 24 de mayo de 2021, el presidente mexicano, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, comunicó que había recibido archivos de Estados Unidos sobre la investigación de las desapariciones de Ayotzinapa en 2014 y el subsiguiente encubrimiento criminal por parte de funcionarios del gobierno mexicano. El presidente López Obrador recibió estos archivos luego de una reunión virtual con la Vicepresidenta Kamala Harris el 7 de mayo de 2021.


La Comisión de Derechos Humanos de TONATIERRA ha acompañado a los padres y familiares de los 43 estudiantes de Ayotzinapa desde hace más de siete años en su intento de llevar la rendición de cuentas y la justicia al caso.


Aunque enviamos este mensaje a sus dos oficinas el 26 de diciembre de 2021, a través de la dirección de correo electrónico proporcionada en su sitio web y se confirmó que se recibió el mensaje, no hemos recibido ninguna respuesta sustancial de ninguno de ustedes con respecto a nuestra solicitud por asistencia en términos de sacar a la luz la información relevante como se describe en nuestra solicitud inicial de FOI.


Haremos un seguimiento con sus oficinas para organizar una reunión para discutir los detalles de los problemas de derechos humanos involucrados.


Atentamente,

 

Tupac Enrique Acosta


TONATIERRA

Comisión de Derechos Humanos

PO Box 24009 Phoenix, AZ 85074

www.tonatierra.org

 

***************************

 

Ayotzinapa: May 26, 2022 Open Letter to Arizona Senators Sinema and Kelly

 



TONATIERRA
Human Rights Commission

PO Box 24009  Phoenix, AZ 85074 
www.tonatierra.org 
Contact: Tupac Enrique Acosta

chantlaca@tonatierra.org


 

May 26, 2022


Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema

3333 E. Camelback Rd, Suite 200

Phoenix, Arizona 85018

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly

2201 E. Camelback Rd, Suite 115

Phoenix, AZ 85016



Dear Arizona Senators Synema and Kelly,

 

On September 24, 2021, we submitted a Freedom of Information Request along with the WATER PROTECTOR LEGAL COLLECTIVE requesting disclosure of records related to the case of the Forced Disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa students on September 26, 2014, in Iguala Guerrero, Mexico.


On May 24, 2021, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador communicated he had received files from the United States regarding the investigation of the 2014 Ayotzinapa disappearances and subsequent criminal coverup by officials of the Mexican government. President Lopez Obrador received these files after a virtual meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris on May 7, 2021.  


The TONATIERRA Human Rights Commission has accompanied the parents and families of the 43 Ayotzinapa students for over seven years now in their attempts to bring accountability and justice to the case.

 

Although we have sent this message to both of your offices on December 26, 2021, via the email address provided on your website and the message has been confirmed to have been received, we have not had any substantive response from either of you regarding our request for assistance in terms of bringing to light the relevant information as outlined our initial FOI request.

 

We shall follow up with your offices to arrange for a meeting to discuss the particulars of the human rights issues involved.

 

Sincerely,

Tupac Enrique Acosta

TONATIERRA

 


PRESS RELEASE

Comisión Permanente Ayotzinapa

TONATIERRA Submits Freedom of Information Request to the Biden administration for US government files on the investigation of the Forced Disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa students missing since September 26, 2014, in Mexico

Phoenix, Arizona – Today a Freedom of Information Act request was formally submitted to the Biden Administration by TONATIERRA and the WATER PROTECTOR LEGAL COLLECTIVE soliciting disclosure of the files related to the US government’s investigation into the Forced Disappearance of the 43 students from Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers’ College missing since September 26, 2014.


YouTube:

AyotzinapArizona 26 diciembre 2021:

¡Ni perdón, Ni olvido!

************

 

1894 Sioux Nation Treaty Council: Recommendation to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

 

P-R-E-S-S    R-E-L-E-A-S-E-

 

 

 

“1894 Sioux Nation Treaty Council recommend Theme to the

 

UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination”

 

May 12, 2022

 

Middle of North America – The 1894 Sioux Nation Treaty Council (SNTC) which has been going to the United Nations (UN) for nearly forty (40) years, is recommending a “theme” to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). The recommendation is that the Sioux Nation, which has a valid treaty with the United States (US), and other Indigenous nations with treaties and agreements with colonizing governments, be recommended in the CERD report to the General Assembly and allowed to participate in the processes of the UN Decolonization Committee as a colonized nation. This would mean the liberation and freedom of such Indigenous nations with the help of the UN. The processes take a few years.

 

The English-speaking countries have been a block to this process since the inception of the UN nearly 77 years ago. However, In Oct. 2021, the UN Human Rights Council, led by China, passed a Resolution to negate the horrible legacy of colonization which includes forced assimilation and other racist and bigotted practices. The English and Spanish speaking colonizing governments have been the most adamant in their colonizing efforts over Indigenous nations and peoples in the western hemisphere.

 

The US will be one of the countries having to respond to the CERD at their meeting in August 2022. Themes are issues that can be brought to the forefront in dialogues when the Committee asks questions of the US. The US responses will be available to the public in the CERD report to the General Assembly next Fall.

 

For the complete documents or more information contact Charmaine White Face at cwhiteface@gmail.com


Thursday, May 19, 2022

TONATIERRA: Submission to UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

TONATIERRA  

Community Development Institute  

PO Box 24009  Phoenix, AZ 85074 
www.tonatierra.org 
tonal@tonatierra.org
 



 

May 17, 2022

 

 

 

 

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

CERD Secretariat

UNOG-OHCHR

8-14 Avenue de la Paix

CH-1211 Geneva 10

Switzerland

 

Dear Members of the Committee,

 

Recommendation for Theme: UN Decolonization Protocols and Systemic Racial Discrimination against Indigenous Peoples 

 

 DOWNLOAD PDF

 

This submission is presented for inclusion in the list of themes to be addressed during the review of the United States of America by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in August 2022.

 

Background

 

The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) states:

 

Article 15

Pending the achievement of the objectives of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of the 14 December 1960, the provisions of this Convention shall in no way limit the rights of petition granted to these peoples by other international instruments or by the United Nations and its specialized agencies.

 

The reference of Article 15 of the ICERD to objectives to be achieved in General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) is predicated by the goal of the eradication of colonialism in all its forms, since:

 

Convinced that the continued existence of colonialism prevents the development of international economic cooperation, impedes the social, cultural and economic development of dependent peoples and militates against the United Nations ideal of universal peace,

 

Believing that the process of liberation is irresistible and irreversible and that, in order to avoid serious crises, an end must be put to colonialism and all practices of segregation and discrimination associated therewith,

 

The subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and co-operation.

 

All peoples have the right to self-determination; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

 

The passage of UN GA1514 in 1960 marks the beginning of the end to the age of colonialism in terms of the UN system. Consequently, when UNGA 1541 (1960) outlined the criteria for identifying “non-self-governing territories” for the purposes of reporting under section 73(e) of the UN charter to the UN Decolonization Committee, the issue of discrimination in the processes of territorial integration within the colonizing settler state was addressed as follows:


Integration should be on the basis of complete equality between the peoples of the erstwhile Non-Self-Governing Territory and those of the independent country with which it is integrated. The peoples of both territories should have equal status and rights of citizenship and equal guarantees of fundamental rights and freedoms without any distinction or discrimination; both should have equal rights and opportunities for representation and effective participation at all levels in the executive, legislative and judicial organs of government.

 

Under 1541, integration within the settler state apparatus was only one of three options identified to correct the crime of colonialism.  The other two are:

Associated Free State Status

Independence


The history of the pathology of racial and cultural supremacy as fundamental to the expansion of the USA across the territories of the Indigenous Peoples on the continent precludes any legitimate claim that the US settler state apparatus achieved “integration” under the guidelines of UNGA 1541.  Sadly, this murderous pathology of institutionalized inequality and racism continues today, evidenced in atrocity after atrocity of mass shootings and violent acts driven by the contemporary colonial-corporate version of “American White Supremacy”.


With the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007, the recognition of Indigenous Peoples as Peoples, equal to all other peoples, was established for the first time in the system of UN protocols and procedures. For the first time, the UN system acknowledged that the right of self-determination of all peoples, also included Indigenous Peoples.


The issue that the proposed theme of UN Decolonization Protocols and Systemic Racial Discrimination against Indigenous Peoples intends to explore is the history of systematic discrimination of the US settler state apparatus, et al, in the purported integration of territories and constituencies of the Original Nations of Indigenous Peoples of the continent based on the nefarious, violent, and blatantly discriminatory policies such as Manifest Destiny, the Doctrine of Discovery and the “Blue Water Thesis” aka the Salt Water Doctrine.  That these policies and practices of systematic discrimination continue today and have been normalized within the UN system itself is exemplified by the fact that the UN Decolonization Committee has yet to substantively address a single case of the violation of the right of self-determination of the Original Nations of Indigenous Peoples of the Great Turtle Island [America].


In terms of the US settler state apparatus, this issue is compounded and aggravated by the denial and violation of the Treaties and agreements between the US government and hundreds of Indigenous Nations.  The 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty with the Oceti Sakowin (Seven Nations), is an emblematic example of this issue as is the case of the Western Shoshone Nation and the Treaty of Ruby Valley (1863), among many others.

 


 

With respect to the situation of the Western Shoshone in particular, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination formally rendered a decision regarding ongoing actions of the United States and its ongoing failure to implement the recommendations contained in paragraphs 8 to 10 of its Decision 1(68) of 2006 and reiterated "in its entirety'' in paragraph 19 of its 72nd Session Concluding Observations (2008). Instead, the U.S. continues to move forward on highly destructive industrial activities and plans on Western Shoshone lands - threatening to expand the irreparable cultural, spiritual and environmental harm being caused.

 

In fact, on September 28, 2009, the Committee noted the United States' failure to respond to requests for information and expressed concern over its slow pace in implementing recommendations. The Committee called again for the "full implementation" of Decision 1(68) and reiterated its request for information regarding its progress. Furthermore, the Committee expressed the need for "high-level" U.S. officials to consult with the Western Shoshone on matters of resource extraction on Western Shoshone traditional lands.

 

In terms of the proposed theme, what is especially significant about the treatment of the Western Shoshone case by CERD and other UN agencies, is the fact that the US government’s claim for jurisdiction over Western Shoshone territory via “gradual encroachment” is based on the legaloid, discriminatory, and repudiated Doctrine of Discovery of Christendom, via Mexico and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848).  This dimension of the case is not addressed by CERD.  The only territorial franchise that Mexico may have illegally claimed over Shoshone Nation territory at any time is as a successor state in historical consequence to the purported claims of discovery by Spain under the Papal Bulls of Inter Caetera (1493).

 

And although the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues issued a repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery of Christendom in 2010, the underlying issue of the discrimination and denial of the rights of petition articulated in Article 15 ICERD continues with impunity in the UN decolonization protocols.

 

This must be corrected.

 


CONCLUSION

On October 8, 2021, the UN Human Rights Council Resolution adopted resolution 48/7 titled Negative Impact of the Legacies of Colonialism on the Enjoyment of Human Rights, wherein is stated the following:

Expressing deep concern at the violations of human rights of indigenous peoples committed in colonial contexts, and stressing the need for States to take all measures necessary to protect rights and ensure the safety of indigenous peoples, especially indigenous women and children, to restore truth and justice and to hold perpetrators accountable,

1. Stresses the utmost importance of eradicating colonialism and addressing the negative impact of the legacies of colonialism on the enjoyment of human rights;

2. Calls for Member States, relevant United Nations bodies, agencies and other relevant stakeholders to take concrete steps to address the negative impact of the legacies of colonialism on the enjoyment of human rights.

 


Submission to CERD: Concrete steps addressing the systematic negative impact of the legacies of colonialism in the UN system:

1) Recommendation for Theme: UN Decolonization Protocols and Systemic Racial Discrimination against Indigenous Peoples

This theme is respectfully submitted for inclusion in the list of themes to be addressed during the review of the United States of America by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in August 2022.

 

2) As a follow up to this theme, CERD should report our recommendations to the UN General Assembly with support for the inclusion of the Sioux Nation, based on the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, in the UN Decolonization procedures which have recently been opened to us with UN Human Rights Council Resolution No. 48/7.

 

3) The CERD should comprehensively address the systematic violation of the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples under the regimes of the colonizing settler states of the Americas and their international borders, as is exemplified in the Western Shoshone case and the border between US-Mexico established by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848).

 

4) For the purposes of discussion on this theme, the recommendations of the 1999 UN Treaty Study by Dr. Miguel Alfonso Martinez should be integrated as a substantive foundation for review, discussion, and effective action to address the legacies of institutionalized colonialism in the UN system.

 


TONATIERRA