Workshop on rights of indigenous peoples held in Nay Pyi Taw

February 2, 2017

A national-level workshop for the study of the UN declaration of the rights of international indigenous peoples was held in Nay Pyi Taw Thursday morning.

“This year, the 10th anniversary of the UN Declaration of the Rights of International Indigenous Peoples coincides with 10th anniversary of the signing of the important declaration in the General Assembly of UN by Myanmar. Our country is comprised of various kinds of national ethnics with traditions and cultures closely related with each other. Thus, we are required to co-exist peacefully and in harmony. By understanding the UN declaration of the rights of international indigenous peoples, we can build a peaceful and harmonious society without discrimination,” said Naing Thet Lwin, Union Minister for Ethnic Affairs. “The Ministry of Ethnic Affairs was formed in accord with the law protecting the rights of national ethnics and for national people to enjoy equal rights, to protect the rights of nationals and for all nationals to have respect for the differences of each other. One of the major objectives of the law protecting rights of the nationals is for all the national ethnics in Myanmar to have equality. Laying down plans to draft laws, rules and regulations on promoting protection of rights of nationals coincides with the time of implementing matters included in the declaration.”

Mr Pablo Barrera, the UN Resident Coordinator, said the workshop aims to preserve the cultures of often-under-represented groups and promote understanding.

“We are grateful of all to have a right to hold such an important occasion. Indigenous peoples are only 5 per cent of the global population, the least populous group. The UN Declaration of the Rights of International Indigenous Peoples was enacted in 2007 with a view to performing the greater development process and conservation of their edifices, cultures and traditions, by conserving and controlling natural resources & land area, to protect cultures and languages of the indigenous people from disappearing. We firmly believe that acknowledging the rights of national people will lead to harmony and cooperative relation between the State and indigenous peoples, based on justice, democracy, respect of human rights, lack of discrimination and good will,” Mr Barrera said.

The workshop was also addressed by Salai Zaoaklein, project manager of Chin Human Rights Group, U Aung Hlaing, local representative of International Fund for Agricultural Development and Mr Raja Devasish Roy, Vice-Chairman of UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

The discussion will end on 3 February.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar