A quick adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Indigenous Populations (Drip): this is the wish expressed by the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, mgr. Celestino Migliore, who spoke in New York yesterday, at the sixth session of the Permanent Forum on the problems of the natives of Ecosoc (Economic and Social Council of the UN). "Territories, lands and natural resources" was the subject of the session. "Since last year’s Forum stated mgr. Migliore -, much has been done to improve the native populations’ exercise of their human rights, both nationally and internationally"; however, "the postponement of the approval of the draft Declaration of the Rights of the Indigenous Populations (Drip) was a disappointment". "After 24 years of discussions within a workgroup of the Commission for Human rights", explained the archbishop, "the draft, approved by the Council for Human Rights, had been sent to the General Assembly for adoption as part of the first Report of the aforesaid Council". Hence "the regret" for such postponement, due to the loss of the benefits that "such deed would have given, especially to the destitute populations of the rural areas, often native and outcast". (continued)” ” ” “
