STATE OF THE WORLD's INDIGENOUs PEOpLEs - CINU

EMBARGOED UNTIL 14 January 2010STATE OF THE WORLD’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLESNot for distributionlead to involuntary or forced migration include poverty, conflict and inadequatelegal protection of lands and resources, as well as environmental toxicity. 25Regardless of the factors prompting the migration, indigenous peoples inurban areas encounter substantial difficulties, including lack of employmentand income, racism, limited access to services and severe housing needs.Indigenous youth are particularly vulnerable. The common denominator inthese cases is structural discrimination, which is reflected in marginalization,exclusion and poverty. 26indigenous peoples inurban areas encountersubstantial difficulties,including lack ofemployment and income,racism, limited accessto services and severehousing needsUN-Habitat has found that indigenous peoples who move to urban areas are oftendisadvantaged when it comes to employment opportunities and face numerousobstacles in accessing credit to start business or income-generating activities.Indigenous migrants have frequently become the slum dwellers of the cities. Assuch, they are more prone to disease, more at risk of HIV/AIDS and suffer asmuch from hunger and malnutrition as rural indigenous people. In addition, theyare more vulnerable to natural and human-made disasters such as fire, floodand land slides and, because of the “illegality” of slums, often cannot accesscritical resources including clean water, sanitation and energy. Taken together,these factors and the ongoing violation of basic rights and fundamental freedomsof indigenous peoples reveal the underlying causes of persistent poverty andsocial exclusion among urban indigenous communities. 27One key issue relating to indigenous urban migration is the paucity of data onthe migration process for indigenous peoples, which has contributed to a lack ofadequate government policies aimed at urbanized indigenous peoples. Becauseof this problem, experts attending an International Expert Group Meeting, heldin Santiago de Chile in March 2007, recommended that research institutions,universities, States and NGOs collect qualitative and quantitative data on urbanindigenous communities and that these data be disaggregated by sex andindigenous group and compared with data from non-indigenous populations.The experts also called for the application of appropriate indigenous researchmethodologies and for the effective participation of the indigenous peoplesthemselves in data collection and research. 28In addressing forward-looking strategies, it is important that indigenous peoples’rights be considered in a holistic way, without dividing urban and rural membersof indigenous communities. Indigenous peoples migrating to urban centresdo not leave their identities behind but maintain strong attachments to theirtraditional lands and culture.25UNPFII (2007), 13.26Statement of José Luis Machinea. UNPFII (2007), 26.27Message from Ann Tibaijuka. UNPFII (2007), 33.28Message from Ann Tibaijuka. UNPFII (2007), 33.232 | CHAPTER VII