UN Fails to Recognize Indigenous Peoples as Members of the Human Family in Their own Right, as Peoples

At the close of the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights Inuit leaders stated that an important opportunity to advance the human rights of Indigenous peoples had been missed.

Members of the Inuit delegation

• Rosemarie Kuptana: President ITC
• Ingmar Egede: Vice-President ICC Greenland
• Henriette Rasmussen: Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, Greenland Home Rule Government

Statement:

“In our conversations with State delegations Inuit have received a great deal of support over the past two days for the recognition of indigenous peoples as having equal rights of all peoples. In fact, it is clear that the vast majority of States favour the recognition of indigenous peoples as “peoples” and their equal rights as peoples. Unfortunately, the process of the conference has permitted the will of a tiny minority of States to prevail resulting in the failure of the Conference to recognize Indigenous Peoples as members of the human family in our own right, as peoples. We are extremely disappointed that we have been once more marginalized and excluded.”