Grønlandsudvalget 2019-20
GRU Alm.del Bilag 37
Offentligt
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UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON
THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz
Visit to Denmark and Greenland
10-19 March 2020
The Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous
peoples, Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, will visit
Denmark and Greenland from 10-19 March 2020.
The Special Rapporteur is an independent expert
appointed by the United Nations Human Rights
Council in 2014. She has a global mandate to
promote the respect, protection and fulfilment of all
human rights for indigenous peoples worldwide.
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 GRU, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 37: Informationsnote om besøg i Danmark og Grønland af FN’s specialrapporteur for oprindelige folk, Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, den 10. - 19. marts 2020
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Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council
Special Rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights
Council to examine and report on a country situation or a specific human rights issue. They serve
in their personal capacity and are independent from any government. The Special Rapporteurs
are part of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council and more information on those
procedures is available at: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/Welcomepage.aspx
Background on the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of
indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples across the world experience the consequences of historical colonization and
invasion of their territories, and face discrimination because of their distinct cultures, identities
and ways of life. In recent decades, the international community has given special attention to
the human rights situations of indigenous peoples, as shown by the adoption of international
standards and guidelines, as well as by the establishment of institutions and bodies that
specifically address these peoples’ concerns. The Special Rapporteur is mandated to promote the
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and international instruments
relevant to the advancement of the rights of indigenous peoples,
The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples was created in 2001
as part of the UN human rights mechanisms of Special Procedures. The mandate, most recently
renewed in 2019 by Human Rights Council resolution A/HRC/RES/42/20, sets out that the
Special Rapporteur should:
Promote good practices, including new laws, government programs, and constructive
agreements between indigenous peoples and states, to implement international standards
concerning the rights of indigenous peoples.
Report on the overall human rights situations of indigenous peoples in selected countries, and
on her activities to the Human Rights Council.
Address specific cases of alleged violations of the rights of indigenous peoples through
communications with Governments and others.
Conduct thematic studies on topics of special importance regarding the promotion and
protection of the rights of indigenous peoples.
The Special Rapporteur in mandated to undertake two official country visits per year at the
invitation of governments. The current Special Rapporteur has undertaken visits to: Paraguay,
Sapmi, Honduras, Brazil, Australia, the United States of America, Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador,
Timor-Leste and the Republic of the Congo.
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 GRU, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 37: Informationsnote om besøg i Danmark og Grønland af FN’s specialrapporteur for oprindelige folk, Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, den 10. - 19. marts 2020
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Brief biography of Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz
Ms. Tauli-Corpuz is an indigenous leader from the Kankana-ey Igorot people of the Cordillera
Region in the Philippines. As an indigenous activist, she has worked for over three decades on
building movement among indigenous peoples and as an advocate for women's rights. She has
been serving as the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples since 2014.
Ms. Tauli-Corpuz is the former Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2005-
2010) has served as the chairperson-rapporteur of the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous
Populations. As an indigenous leader, she was actively engaged in the drafting and adoption of
the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007. She has founded and managed
various NGOs involved in social awareness raising, climate change and the advancement of
indigenous peoples' and women's rights. In her capacity as the United Nations Special
Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Ms. Tauli-Corpuz has provided expert testimony
before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and policy advice to
inter alia
the World
Bank and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
Among the thematic priorities of the current mandate-holder, where reports have been presented
to the Human Rights Council and the General-Assembly, are the following topics:
The right of indigenous peoples’ to autonomy or self-government
Conservation measures and their impact on indigenous peoples’ rights
Impacts of climate change and climate finance on indigenous peoples’ rights
Attacks and criminalisation of indigenous human rights defender
Access to justice in ordinary and indigenous justice system
Rights of indigenous women and girls
For further information about the Special Rapporteur’s mandate and activities, please consult the
OHCHR webpage at:
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/SRIndigenousPeoples/Pages/SRIPeoplesIndex.aspx
General objectives of special procedures’ country visits
Special procedures country visits are an essential means to obtain direct and first-hand
information, and to assess positive developments as well as challenges and gaps in the protection
and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples. They allow for assessment of the human
rights situation and facilitate an intensive dialogue with all relevant State authorities, both at
national and local levels of government.
Country visits are based on engagement with, and information gathering from, indigenous
representatives and organisations, individuals and communities affected by policy decisions,
independent national human rights institutions, members of civil society, academia, international
cooperation and international non-governmental organisations as well as UN agencies and
entities. During country visits the Special Rapporteur conducts community visits.
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 GRU, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 37: Informationsnote om besøg i Danmark og Grønland af FN’s specialrapporteur for oprindelige folk, Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, den 10. - 19. marts 2020
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A key objective of country visits is to promote and advance the protection of the rights of
indigenous peoples, notably in terms of practical implementation of the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, through constructive and concrete
recommendations to various stakeholders.
All official visits are conducted in line with Human Rights Council resolution 5/2 on the Code of
Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate- holders of the Human Rights Council, and with the
Terms of Reference for country visits. See annex below.
Thematic priorities for the Special Rapporteur’s visit to Denmark and
Greenland
For the visit, based on background research and submissions in response to her public call for
input, the Special Rapporteur is particularly interested in receiving information, including on
relevant policy measures and legal framework, regarding
inter alia
the following themes:
Self-governance
Administration of justice
Access to health services (including mental health)
Education and indigenous languages
The situation of children and youth
Homelessness/ housing
Sexual abuse and violence
Persons with disabilities
Climate change impacts and the environment, development, mining
Security matters
On the 19
th
of March, the Special Rapporteur will present her preliminary findings and
recommendations at a press conference at the UN City in Copenhagen.
A draft of the full report on the visit will be shared with the Governments for comments and
subsequently presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in September 2020.
During the visit, the Special Rapporteur will be accompanied by Ms. Christine Evans, Human
Rights Officer supporting the mandate on the rights of indigenous peoples at OHCHR in Geneva,
contact +41 22 917 91 97, [email protected]
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