By Shalina R.

Creating awareness on rights of indigenous peoples

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s first official International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples celebration is poised to raise the awareness needed for further creation of nativeinclusive state policies and programs, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau.

Tangau said the inaugural Sabah government event would have a humble beginning but would carry an enormous objective to promote the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Undrip) to everyone, especially among policy makers and state to grassroots leaders.

“The basic objective of the celebration is creating awareness among policy makers and community leaders on the United Nation Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples.

“It is very important that policy makers and community leaders are aware of this declaration because the declaration is not legally binding on the states, nations of the world but it actually serves as an important standard for the treatment of indigenous peoples that will undoubtedly be a significant tool towards eliminating human rights violations against the planet’s 370 million indigenous people and assisting them in combating discrimination and marginalization,” emphasized Tangau, who is also Upko acting president.

“As we organize this event, we will be circulating the content of the documents of the United Nation Declaration of Rights of the Indigenous Peoples, not only to those who attend but the committee will also be sending letters with the document to the individual leaders” he added during a press conference held at Wisma Kewangan in Sembulan here yesterday.

According to Tangau, the Undrip document consists of 23 triangular clauses with 46 articles and several major themes, the first two being the rights of self-determination of indigenous peoples and individuals, and the rights of indigenous peoples and individuals to protect their culture through practices, languages, education, media and religion.

Meanwhile, the third to fifth theme asserts the indigenous peoples’ rights to own type of governance and to economy development, rights pertaining to health, protection of subgroups, especially the elderly, children and women, land rights from ownership and on how these documents should be interpreted and understood in future references.

“So all in all, the Undrip essentially is to create awareness that the indigenous are equal to other peoples. Their rights are the same with all people, that they are not to be discriminated, that their rights are not to be violated. It is also important to create awareness that the United Nation declaration of human rights has also acknowledged the Undrip as an important document and open component of the promotion of human rights,” stressed Madius.

“There is going to be a seminar on the night of (August) 8, where issues pertaining to the Undrip itself, the application of the Undrip, the local situation in Sabah will be presented to participating associations.

“But, I have also directed the committee that heads of departments of the government should be invited because they are the target. It is very important, and you must realize that it is important for the government to participate, understand and to be aware of the document so that they will be able to take this into consideration, into the policies and programs and things like that. That is the point. Because what is important is how indigenous people are treated and who are these people, it is the government. You must invite them, they must be part of the whole process,” he said.

Tangau reiterated the Undrip and other documents must be prepared for and distributed to policy makers so that they would be able to refer to it and make the indigenous peoples’ rights as part of the important considerations when formulating policies and coming up with government programs.

“From hence forth, the state government will be able to organize this every year. In doing so, as the years go by, the awareness of the decision makers and policy makers as well as community leaders and those who are involved with the indigenous people will have a greater understanding and henceforth try to use the Undrip as a standard as to how indigenous people should be treated,” he elaborated.