Estonia Supports UN Activities to Protect Indigenous Peoples
29.06.2010
Nr 222 – E
The Foreign Ministry is supporting the activities of the UN and its sub-organisations that protect the indigenous peoples of the world in order to guarantee that the organisations and communities of indigenous peoples have the opportunity to protect their rights and develop their culture and way of life.
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that Estonia has supported various UN organisations that focus on indigenous peoples since 1996. “Estonia’s aid is directed towards the economic and social development of the organisations and communities of indigenous peoples, as well as the support of their culture, education and health care,” said the Estonian foreign minister. “Another goal of Estonian support is to ensure the protection of the human dignity and human rights of indigenous peoples,” Paet noted, also stating that indigenous issues and helping to preserve indigenous peoples is historically an important topic for Estonia.
This year the Foreign Ministry is allocating a total of 500 000 kroons (32 000 EUR) of its development co-operation budget for UN sub-organisations that deal with the protection of indigenous peoples. Of the donation, 100 000 kroons will go to the UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations, 100 000 kroons will go to the UN Voluntary Fund for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, 100 000 to the UN Forum on Indigenous Issues and 200 000 to the Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights.
The UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations supports the participation of indigenous organisations and communities in working groups that address the situation of indigenous peoples. The UN Voluntary Fund for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples works with financing the work and projects of the Forum on Indigenous Issues. The UN Forum on Indigenous Issues is an advisory body at the UN Economic and Social Council where the economic and social development of the organisations and communities of indigenous peoples as well as issues related to their culture, education and health care are discussed. The Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights works to promote the protection of human dignity and human rights in the world, helping nations adhere to mutually established human rights standards.
