Human Rights Mechanisms

Human trafficking is one of the most difficult issues to address in Nepal, affecting and exploiting thousands of women, adolescent girls, and children. Indigenous women and girls are disproportionately affected by human trafficking and represent almost 70 percent of the cases. Indigenous women and girls make up the majority of the people trafficked and exploited. Following the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, economic opportunities have been severely impacted and the numbers of missing women and girls including children have risen sharply.

Global News on the topic of Indigenous Rights.

Produced by Shaldon Ferris, Cesar Gomez, Dev Kumar Sunuwar.

The state of Germany has agreed to compensate the state of Namibia, by means of a development fund of 1.4 billion Euros, over 30 years. How will this agreement benefit the descendents of the victims of the thousands of people who were tortured and murdered by the colonial rulers of the South Western African country of Namibia, in the early 1900's.
Diana Morat from Eldos FM, a community radio station in Johannesburg, South Africa interviews Martinus Fredericks, a direct descendent of Cornelius Fredericks, who was a Nama leader who fought along Kaptein Hendrik Witbooi.

Taté Walker is a Lakota citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. They are a Two Spirit feminist, Indigenous rights activist, and a published and award-winning storyteller. In this interview, Julie Post(Intern at Cultural Survival), catches up with Taté Walker to hear about the issues faced by the LGBTQIA+ community at present.
Produced by Julie Post
Edited by Shaldon Ferris
Interviewee: Taté Walker
Image: Taté Walker
Music: "Whispers" by Ziibiwan, used with permission.

For many African communities, lands and natural resources are their greatest and most reliable service providers, sustaining life, dignity and happiness. Their stewardship of the ecosystems on which they depend is also recognized as one of the most important contributions to nature conservation, with the lands and waters of indigenous peoples and local communities supporting approximately 80% of the world’s biodiversity.

Every single case deserves justice’: Non-profit seeks data
sovereignty and justice for Alaska’s missing and murdered.
Report from 90.3fm KNBA, Alaska.
Produced by Tripp Crouse.
Image: KNBA Logo

"Peace, justice and strong institutions: the role of indigenous peoples in implementing Sustainable Development Goal 16". That is the theme for the 20th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum of Indigenous Issues. The Forum was established on 28 July 2000 by resolution 2000/22, with the mandate to deal with Indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health, and human rights. Cultural Survival spoke to Kenneth Deer (Mohawk) about the history and work of the Permanent Forum. 
Image: Kenneth Deer

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is a high-level advisory body to the Economic and Social Council. The Forum was established on 28 July 2000 by with the mandate to deal with indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health, and human rights.
Andrea Carmen (Yaqui) from the International Indian Treaty Council was there in the beginning, and in this radio program, she tells us all about the history of the forum, the present state of the forum, and the forum of tomorrow.

For months now, since the military coup on February 1, 2021, people from all walks of life in Myanmar have been continuously taking to the streets in protest. Everyday thousands of people have been detained, including high profile leaders and politicians of the civilian government. Many are kept under house arrest with no outside contact and in most cases their whereabouts are still unknown. Large demonstrations against the coup are occurring daily in Myanmar, defying the curfews and restrictions put in place by the military.

February 1, 2021, the day on which the newly elected parliament had scheduled its first official parliamentary session in Myanmar after the election held in November 2020. Just hours before the scheduled sessions, the military conducted a house-raid and arrested several elected leaders and politicians, including Aung San Suu Kyi, politician, diplomat, author, and a 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and president Win Myint and other senior government figures. The Myanmar military then declared a state of emergency and imposed curfews putting restrictions on public gatherings.