On January 21, 2016, the Kingdom of Denmark’s human rights record was reviewed by the United Nations Human Rights Council as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) second cycle process. This mechanism emerged from the 2005 UN reform process and periodically examines the human rights performance of all 193 UN Member States. It is intended to complement the work of other human rights mechanisms, including the UN human rights treaty bodies. This is the first international human rights mechanism to address all countries and all human rights.
The UPR is an opportunity to report on the implementation of certain recommendations as well as the general state of human rights in the country subject to review. The process stresses dialogue and a sharing of knowledge on both local and global levels. There are five phases of participation in the Universal Periodic Review; Preparation, Interaction, Consideration, Adoption, and Implementation. In total, these five phases amount to a 24-month campaign that can educate, engage, and empower Indigenous Peoples to connect issues at the grassroots level with global governmental responsibility based on recommendations drafted in their own communities and countries.
During Denmark’s review, several recommendations were made pertaining to Indigenous Peoples. These recommendations affect the the Greenlandic Inuit, Denmark’s only recognized Indigenous people. The Inuit still maintain traditional Indigenous practices, such as hunting and fishing. The Inuit were subjugated under Danish colonial rule from 1721 up through the twentieth century. In 1953, Denmark implemented a severe policy of modernization through urbanization, relocating the Inuit from their small, subsistence-based communities to major cities. In 1979, Greenland successfully lobbied for autonomy from Denmark and achieved a Home Rule Government, which was expanded to Self-Government in 2009. Although Denmark’s initial relationship with its Indigenous Population reflected typical Western European imperialism, its more recent promotion of governmental sovereignty for Greenland illustrates its sincere investment in and respect for Indigenous Peoples. During the 1950s the Inuit faced increasing forced assimilation coded as urbanization and modernization. In recent years, the Inuit community has achieved greater sovereignty and bolstered culture and language. As climate change is creating unprecedented access to natural resources in Greenland, extractive industries evoke new questions concerning environmental responsibility and Inuit independence.
Cultural Survival is one of the organizations that submitted a stakeholder report regarding the recommendations from the previous cycle of the UPR. Second cycle recommendations resonate with the recommendations made by Cultural Survival.
To internalize and enforce the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), in specific regards to the criminal justice system, the education system, and the political system (recommended by the United Kingdom, Brazil, Maldives, Indonesia, Estonia).
- To establish a national action plan to directly target and solve issues of societal racial discrimination (recommended by Uruguay, Kyrgyzstan, Benin, Côte D’Ivoire, Russian Federation, Costa Rica, Chile, Poland, New Zealand).
- To engage in dialogue with the Greenlandic government as a sovereign entity to ensure a continued campaign towards gender equality and stronger rights for women (recommended by Honduras, Costa Rica).
- To bolster and further protect the rights of Indigenous people, particularly in regards to tradition, identity, language, access to education, and increased self-determination and recognition of distinct cultures within the Inuit population of Greenland (recommended by Armenia, Canada, Mexico, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iceland, Djibouti, Panama).
These recommendations are given to encourage the government to improve their human rights records, and to provide the opportunity for citizens to set up specific goals. These reviews provide the tools and information to continue to advocate for change and to hold, in this case, Denmark, accountable to its commitment to human rights.
There are many different ways in which civil society, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, can use this information to strengthen commitment to human rights and hold their governments accountable in implementing UPR recommendations.
- By publicizing the recommendations and commitments made by the country involved, and raising awareness of the envisioned benchmarks, civil society can make the government accountable to its citizens, as well as increase the participation of Indigenous and other marginalized citizens in the process of creating, assessing, and evaluating these recommendations. This is possible through radio shows, press releases, publications, speaker events, festivals, email blasts, social media campaigns, and community organizing as examples.
- To become a part of the implementation of the recommendations. To ensure the sustainability and success of these recommendations Indigenous citizens and their organizations need to part of or lead the implementation. This is possible through advocating for transparency, inclusion, and creating awareness and accountability. As the inclusion of Indigenous voices is in itself a recommendation, it is important to hold the country accountable.
- Besides implementing recommendations, Indigenous citizens and their organizations should also be part of monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on the implementation of these recommendations. One way of vocalizing Indigenous concerns is through presenting at the Human Rights Council, which convenes three times a year.
Civil society groups and local organizations can read UPR Info’s “Civil Society Follow Up Kit” to learn more about how to implement UPR recommendations on the ground in their country.
Ultimately, the UPR process is an opportunity for Indigenous communities to vocalize their concerns and experiences, create action plans, and ensure implementation and accountability.
