(WGIP 98 Report )
C. Indigenous peoples and health: follow up and recent developments
The Chairperson-Rapporteur, Ms. Erica-Irene A. Daes declared open agenda Item 6 entitled
"Indigenous peoples and health: follow-up and recent developments"; introduced
the item and gave the floor to Mr. Edward G. Webster, who spoke on behalf of Dr. Michel
Jancloes, Director, Division of Intensified Cooperation with Countries and Peoples in
Greatest Needs (ICO), of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Mr. Webster focused his intervention on the link between WHO, indigenous
peoples and the International Decade. He recalled res. WHA51.24, adopted by the World
Health Assembly in May 1998, which urges WHO Member States to develop and implement
national plan of actions or programs on indigenous peoples' health and requests the
Director General of WHO to promote the
inclusion of indigenous health in the work programme at the country, regional and global
level. WHO also gave its contribution in areas such as quality of life assessment,
traditional medicine, substance abuse, nations for mental health and the health of
indigenous peoples of the Americas. It was announced that a document, whose author is an
indigenous health professional, will be published shortly by WHO on the health of
indigenous peoples. Mr. Webster requested the Chairperson-Rapporteur to annex the report
of the World Health Organization Forum of 30 July 1998 to the report of the Working Group.
The Committee on Indigenous Health appointed by the Indigenous Peoples'
caucus at the Preparatory Conference for the fifteenth session of the WGIP, upon
completion of its first year of activities, put forward some suggestions. In particular,
it recommended that the WGIP re-examine and consider the recommendations of the Committee
as reflected in para. 79 of the report of the WGIP on its fifteenth session, with a view
to ensuring the establishment of a comprehensive program of action on indigenous health in
consultation with representatives of indigenous peoples; it recommended that the United
Nations agencies dealing with health related issues share information with the Committee
itself and, more in general, with indigenous organizations; further recommended that the
WGIP take action to establish and maintain an appropriate interim institutional status for
the Committee itself to ensure
participation in the formulation of policies and programmes within United Nations
agencies, particularly with the focal point for indigenous health for the International
Decade, national governments and other bodies; finally requested that financial assistance
from the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations be accorded to it, to insure the
fulfilment of its mandate and suggested that health issues remain a permanent item on the
agenda of the WGIP.
An indigenous representative from the Netherlands presented the outcome
of the seminar on Indigenous Women, Health Care and Traditional Medicine, organized in
Amsterdam in 1997, by the Indigenous Council in the Netherlands and the Commission of
Indigenous Women which had been organized as part of the United Nations Decade of the
World' s Indigenous People and in
accordance with the 1995 Declaration of Beijing. The seminar focused on the role of
indigenous women in indigenous health and their knowledge of traditional medicine.
Particular attention was accorded to measures to improve indigenous living and health
conditions. Discussions led to the conclusion that, as a fundamental base for the
protection and improvement of indigenous living
and health conditions, it is paramount that indigenous communities re-establish control
over their own affairs, particularly in developing education and health programmes.
Some indigenous representatives from North America reported on health
conditions of their communities, which result from social problems that indigenous people
face everywhere, such as unemployment, alcohol and drug abuse as well as family violence.
A report on Diabetes Among First Nations People, containing information from the 1991
Aboriginal Peoples Survey was provided to the participants. In order to contrast the
above- mentioned adverse effects of colonization, it was suggested that employment
programmes be designed and implemented; that counseling and improved community services be
provided and that education be controlled by indigenous groupsthemselves.
Serious concern was expressed at the growing incidence of HIV/AIDS
infection in indigenous communities, both on
reservations and in urban areas; particular emphasis was put on prevention and treatment.
The WGIP was urged to support the International AIDS Conference. Finally, the request was
expressed that the United Nations, under the direction of UNAIDS and WHO, appoint a
Special Rapporteur on HIV/AIDS whose mandate should also include indigenous health-related
issues.
An indigenous representative from South America denounced health
strategies implemented by some governments,
aiming at limiting births within indigenous communities which, in turn, have caused lethal
infections to some of the women concerned. The importance of information sharing and
awareness raising in the field of health was particularly stressed.
An indigenous representative from Australia sketched indigenous health
conditions of Aborigines in Australia and their most common infections and diseases, which
include rheumatic fever, pneumonia, skin diseases, chronic ear infections, diabetes and
renal diseases. It was reported that the incidence of eye disease among Aborigines
continues to occur at rates that are greater than those concerning the non-Aboriginal
population. This situation results from Aborigines' living conditions which are
characterized by poor housing, lack of hygiene and squalor. While lamenting the lack of
commitment of the Australian Government on these issues Aborigines were encouraged lo
learn that the Australian Federal Health Minister has confirmed his support for Aboriginal
community control in health and his commitment to continue to work in close cooperation
with indigenous organizations.
Another indigenous representative from Oceania recognized that, despite
difficulties, some progress had been made in indigenous health conditions and that
traditional cultural, social and spiritual needs are addressed in close cooperation with
local groups.
An indigenous representative from Africa highlighted the link between
health and marginalization. In particular,
poor living conditions, great walking distances, declining access to and control of water
resources expose
indigenous communities to HIV/AIDS and other serious diseases; irresponsible tourism was
identified as one of the
main causes which contribute to the spreading of HIV/AIDS infection; women are not kept
informed about birth
related programmes. In addition, health care support systems are under-equipped and
inadequate in number to deal
with indigenous health conditions.