UN Special Rapporteur visits Namibia - Meeting with Himba, Zemba, Twa and other Indigenous Peoples
By Rebecca Sommer
I went from December to March 2012 to Namibia, to investigate and to document in written and in video format the human rights violations conducted by the government of Namibia against it’s indigenous peoples.
Himba Women sitting behind the Himba men, at the human rights meeting about the proposed Baynes Site dam, in Orokawe (Photo © Rebecca Sommer)
Even so I planned an entire country visit, I remained in Kaokoland, the territory of the semi-nomadic Himba (and Zemba), where I stayed in numerous villages, and held countless regional human rights meetings, that resulted in Himba and Zemba invitation letters to the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya, and three Human Rights complaint Declarations of the Himba and Zemba. (links to the Declarations below)
The invitation letter to James Anaya, and the three Declarations where submitted to the UN Human Rights mechanisms by Earth Peoples.
Therefore I am pleased that the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya, is now visiting Namibia from 20 to 28 September 2012, to examine the situation of indigenous peoples in that country. This is the first mission to Namibia by an independent expert designated by the UN Human Rights Council to report on the rights of the indigenous peoples.
“I will examine the situation of indigenous peoples in Namibia in, among others, the areas of lands and resources, development, and social and economic rights, in light of relevant international standards including those in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was adopted by the General Assembly in 2007 with an affirmative vote by Namibia,” he said.
The Special Rapporteur will carry out meetings with representatives of the Government of Namibia and with indigenous peoples and non-governmental organizations.
Click on the LINKS below:
DECLARATION BY THE TRADITIONAL HIMBA LEADERS OF KAOKOLAND IN NAMIBIA
DECLARATION BY THE ZEMBA PEOPLE OF NAMIBIA
PHOTOS of Himba and Zemba human rights meetings
VIDEOS of Himba indigenous peoples
Himba woman during Earth Peoples human rights training (Photo©Rebecca Sommer)
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EARTH PEOPLES note: read James Anaya’s statement
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Tags: DECLARATION BY THE TRADITIONAL HIMBA LEADERS OF KAOKOLAND IN NAMIBIA, Himba, James Anaya, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Zemba