WHERE: Interfax News Agency, 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya St., 2, Mayakovskaya metro station

WHEN: Friday, 16 October, 15:30

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, James Anaya, who visited the Russian Federation from 05 to 16 October 2009, at the invitation of the Government, will present the preliminary outcomes of his visit at a press conference on 16 October.

The Special Rapporteur examined the progress made to date in the country in the protection and promotion of human rights of indigenous peoples in the Russian Federation, where there are over 40 officially recognized indigenous peoples, located mainly in the North, Siberia, and Far East parts of Russia. Among the main issues, the Special Rapporteur studied the major challenges faced by indigenous people and their impact on the enjoyment of their fundamental rights as well as identified best practices in addressing indigenous issues in Russia at local and federal levels. During the mission, the Special Rapporteur visited Moscow, Khanty-Mansiysk, Krasnoyarsk, and Khabarovsk to meet with a number of high-ranking government officials, representatives of indigenous communities and civil society groups on the human rights of indigenous people.

The Special Rapporteur will present his preliminary findings and recommendations to the Government and will submit a report to the Human Rights Council in its forthcoming session.

In the presence of the Special Rapporteur, representatives of several Russian indigenous groups will hand over symbolically to the Senior Human Rights Advisor of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, Mr. Dirk Hebecker, translations in 6 languages of indigenous peoples of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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The Commission on Human Rights decided to appoint in 2001 a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, as part of the system of thematic special procedures. The Special Rapporteur’s mandate was renewed by the Commission on Human Rights in 2004 and by the Human Rights Council, which replaced the Commission, in 2007.

On 26 March 2008, the Human Rights Council appointed Professor S. James Anaya (United States of America), for an initial period of three years. Professor Anaya is the James J. Lenoir Professor of Human Rights Law and Policy at the University of Arizona (United States).

For accreditation please refer to Interfax News Agency at
250 88 32 till 14:00 on 16 October