WORKING GROUP ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

The creation of the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples at the order of the Andean Council of Presidents, meeting in Machu Picchu in July 2001, is part of the strategy to broaden the participation of civil society in the integration process. 

The Group was set up in Urubamba (Cusco) on May 11, 2002 with the participation of representatives of indigenous organizations, government agencies, Offices of the Public Defender, and experts from the five CAN Member Countries.   

The participants at that meeting signed the “Act of Urubamba” and asked the General Secretariat to take the necessary steps to fulfill the Machu Picchu Declaration, concluding with the formation of the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples.   

At the behest of the General Secretariat, the Andean Council of Foreign Ministers adopted Decision 524 in July 2002, establishing the Working Group on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 

The Working Group on Indigenous Peoples was created as a “consultative body within the Andean Integration System to promote the active participation of indigenous peoples in economic, social, cultural and political matters connected with subregional integration.” 

Responsibilities of the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples

a) Recommend measures to promote the rights of indigenous peoples, particularly with regard to the eradication of poverty, development with social equity and the recognition of the indigenous contribution to Andean society. 

b) State its opinion to the Andean Council of Foreign Ministers, the Commission or the General Secretariat of the Andean Community, as the case may be, on its own initiative or at their request, about matters connected with the participation of indigenous peoples in the subregional integration process. 

c) Recommend the adoption of joint positions in international forums that address matters having to do with indigenous peoples.   

d) Promote the exchange, assessment and dissemination of successful experiences and practices, organizational strengthening and, in general, cooperation among indigenous peoples or organizations, State bodies and human rights and civil society organizations of the Member Countries. 

e) Foster the reinforcement of the cultural identity of Member Country indigenous peoples.   

f) Help follow-up on the application of the Decisions adopted by the competent bodies of the Andean Integration System and of the provisions of international treaties, agreements and conventions that concern the rights of indigenous peoples.

Rules of procedure

The General Secretariat of the Andean Community was also asked in the “Act of Urubamba” to prepare basic rules of procedure for the operation of the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples. 

The Member Countries are currently studying the draft rules of procedure.