The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Professor James Anaya, will carry out an official visit to the United States of America from April 23 to May 4, 2012. He will examine the human rights situation of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians (estimated population of 2.7 million). His visit consists of meetings and consultations with federal and state government officials, as well as with Indigenous nations and their representatives in the Southwest, Midwest, Alaska, Pacific Northwest and Washington, D.C.
In December 2010 the Obama administration endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Special Rapporteur will examine how the Declaration's standards are currently reflected in U.S. law and policy. He will recommend reforms needed to implement the Declaration in a preliminary report that will be submitted to the United States for its comments. A final version of the report will be circulated publicly and presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The Special Rapporteur will conclude his official visit with a press conference on May 4th.
The Special Rapporteur invites Indigenous Peoples and organizations, and other interested parties, to send information relevant to the visit to the United States or any other aspect of his mandate to: indigenous@ohchr.org
For more information of James Anaya's visit go to: http://unsr.jamesanaya.org/.
