Ladies and gentlemen. Dear
friends.
First of all let me express my
appreciation for being invited to address this second meeting of
the Forum for Development Cooperation with Indigenous Peoples here
in Tromsø. I’m starting to feel very much at home here. I was in
this room just two days ago speaking to the Annual Conference of
Norwegian Development Researchers. My wife, however, is starting to
get suspicious. What are my real reasons for going up to Tromsø all
the time...
But my conscience is clear, more
than clear at least as far as my wife is concerned. Two days ago I
spoke about "development as freedom"—a perspective on development
that takes man, the human being, as the measure and ultimate
objective of our efforts. Development must, in this perspective, be
about expanding human freedoms—so that we all one day can live
lives that we have reason to value and appreciate, both as
individuals and communities. This perspective goes way beyond
stimulating economic growth or providing "basic needs". I argued
that we needed the contributions of researchers to help us
formulate policies for the expansion of freedoms. I believe you can
already find my statement on the Ministry’s web pages.
Today I am happy to be back in
Tromsø at an event that puts the situation of indigenous peoples at
the center of attention. I am even more pleased with the fact that
progress is being made when it comes to addressing indigenous
peoples’ issues in the context of development cooperation. If
development is about expanding freedoms, the plight of indigenous
peoples in many parts of the world is certainly a cause of great
concern. Because indigenouse peoples continue to suffer from a lot
of "unfreedom" in terms of their relations to society at large. I
think this conference will bring out the precarious situation of
many indigenous peoples in the world today. It is important that we
all pay attention to them. Therefore, a very warm welcome to all of
you and particularly representatives of indigenous peoples around
the world – from the Government of Norway. (Guatemala, Nicaragua,
Botswana, South Africa)
This Forum was established as a
follow-up of an evaluation of the Norwegian Program for Indigenous
Peoples. The evaluation report pointed out the need for a forum
where Norwegian and international institutions could meet to
discuss development issues relating to indigenous peoples. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs agreed to this recommendation. It found
that a forum where Norwegian institutions dealing with indigenous
issues might share their experiences with similar non-Norwegian
institutions, also would strengthen the quality of Norwegian
development assistance.
The University of Tromsø was
invited to host the forum. I find that very appropriate. The
University has a strong and internationally recognized track record
regarding research on indigenous issues.
The Norwegian development program
for indigenous peoples was started in 1983. The program, which
probably was the first of its kind, has a mandate "to strengthen
the capacity and ability of indigenous peoples to shape and control
their own development". Technical and financial assistance has been
offered for projects in the area of human rights, health, culture
and education. In addition institution building and networking have
been emphasized.
The evaluation of the Norwegian
program found it relevant to the needs of indigenous peoples.
Several projects had had a major impact on the situation of
indigenous peoples in various countries. Projects under the program
had led to a higher degree of organization building amongst
indigenous peoples, including among indigenous women.
Competence building is central in
the Norwegian development assistance to indigenous peoples. It is
of fundamental importance to contribute to education at all levels.
Programs of scholarships may be one way of contributing to this
aim.
The institutions representing the
Sámi people in Norway, i.a. the Sámi Parliament and the Sámi
Council have, through their contacts with indigenous peoples in
other parts of the world, gained a unique knowledge of their
situation. This knowledge must be a fundamental part in the
development of strategies for Norwegian assistance to indigenous
peoples.
Research and information sharing on
the situation of indigenous peoples is of paramount importance for
developing a strategy for sustainable development for indigenous
peoples. Norwegian research institutions, in co-operation with
their international partners, contribute to the development of new
knowledge and increased understanding of issues concerning
indigenous peoples. In this partnership, Norwegian Sami
institutions play a crucial role.
The Center for Sámi Studies here at
the University in Tromsø has contributed to increased research and
education relating to the situation for the Sami people. The Sámi
College and the Nordic Sámi Institute, both in Kautokeino, are key
elements in the development of knowledge and competence on
indigenous issues.
In the Plan of Action for Human
Rights that was presented in 1999, one important measure was to
establish a resource center for the rights of indigenous peoples.
The reason for the establishment of such a center, situated in
northern Norway, was to raise awareness of aspects of human rights
for indigenous peoples in the region, in the country as a whole and
internationally. The center should supply information to schools,
institutions and organizations on topics relating to indigenous
peoples.
I am happy to see that this project
is in its final stage and that the Center will be formally
established in Kautokeino early next year.
I would like to emphasize however,
that the Center has not been established in competition with other
established educational and research institutions dealing with
indigenous issues. The Center will complement the work done
elsewhere. It will not carry out research on it own, but point to
areas where more research may be needed.
Due to their special relations to
the land on which they live, indigenous peoples have gained
information that we all need. Unfortunately this information is
often disregarded, which in turn results in environmental disasters
- the destruction of the rain forests being one example. It is
therefore important that indigenous knowledge is brought into the
international processes relating to environmental and development
issues. It has been the policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
to support indigenous organizations wishing to present their views
on these issues.
We are now into the second part of
the International Decade for the World’s Indigenous People. The
Decade has two concrete aims. One is to conclude a UN Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the other to establish a
Permanent Forum on indigenous issues within the UN.
With regards to the conclusion of a
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, progress has
not been as fast as could be hoped for. Several fundamental issues,
for instance the right to self-determination for indigenous
peoples, has not yet been agreed upon. However, the deliberations
continue, and we still aim to reach an agreement before 2004, when
the Decade ends. In the national preparations for the UN meetings
on this issue, the government has put great emphasis on
co-operation with the Sámi Parliament, even though our ideas may
have differed considerably.
The second aim of the Decade, the
establishment of a Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues within the
UN, has had more success. The UN General Assembly voted last year
that such a Forum should be established. The process of selecting
the members of the forum is going forward. The Forum will meet for
the first time in New York in May next year. The establishment of
the forum marks a significant development in the recognition of
indigenous peoples' rights. The forum will consist of eight members
elected by governments and eight selected from indigenous
organizations and groups. This will be the first time
representatives not nominated from UN member governments will take
part at an equal level with members elected by governments.
The promotion and protection of
indigenous peoples' rights will be an important issue for my
government. We will work in close cooperation with representatives
from the Sámi population, both in developing strategies for
economic development for indigenous peoples in Latin America,
Africa and Asia, and on human rights issues within the UN.
The perspective of indigenous
peoples is a valuable resource when we formulate policies to meet
the challenges of globalization. Management of resources, poverty
reduction, financing of development - these are core issues in the
international debate prior to the international summit on
sustainable development in Johannesburg in September 2002.
Indigenous peoples live in all
kinds of natural-ecological settings, from the arctic regions to
the desert, from the savanna to the tropical rainforest, in coastal
areas and thousands of kilometers from the sea. Many of them live
very close to nature, and are as vulnerable as the ecosystem they
depend upon. What most indigenous peoples have in common is that
they have been economically and politically marginalized for
generations.
Everyone has the right of a voice
and a right to be heard. That is why we are here today: to
strengthen our efforts so that the voices of the indigenous peoples
are listened to, so that we together can make the right decisions
in our development efforts. Through combined efforts, by working
together, we will be able to make a difference.
Thank you.
