Vatican envoy calls for greater respect for indigenous peoples

October 22, 2014

The Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations said in an October 20 statement that “much still needs to be done to safeguard the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples in many parts of the world.”

“The world's indigenous peoples have the same claim as every person, people or nation to their fundamental human rights to development,” Archbishop Bernardito Auza stated during a UN committee discussion.

“The realization of their right to development must be as much as possible coherent and harmonious with their specific identity and values,” he added. “The indigenous peoples themselves must have a say on their own development.”

 

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Further information:

• Holy See to UN: No discrimination against indigenous peoples (Vatican Radio)