Indigenous Peoples and the UN Commission on Human Rights: A Case of the Immovable Object and the Irresistible Force

This article presents an overview of the initial political reading of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the Commission on Human Rights Working Group. Chronicling the nine year process leading to the current Draft Declaration, the author recounts the main obstacles encountered in gathering international support for Indigenous peoples rights. The author suggests the importance of this Working Group's requirement of full participation by Indigenous organizations and recommendation for immediate adoption of the draft document. Also included is an overview of participating states' attitude towards the main components of the draft declaration. Although this article does not focus specifically on Indigenous women, it has particular relevance for many of their core international legal concerns.