Pope meets representatives of indigenous peoples
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met with a group
representing indigenous peoples ahead of his Wednesday General Audience,
speaking to them about the need to "reconcile the right to development,
both social and cultural, with the protection of the particular characteristics
of indigenous peoples and their territories".
The representatives are participating in the Indigenous
Peoples’ Forum hosted in Rome by the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural
Development (IFAD). The biennial meeting aims to promote greater economic
empowerment of indigenous peoples.
In his brief address to representatives, Pope Francis
discussed two aspects of the economic empowerment of indigenous peoples.
He said, “The central issue is how to reconcile the right to
development, both social and cultural, with the protection of the particular
characteristics of indigenous peoples and their territories.”
This is especially clear, he said, “when planning economic
activities which may interfere with indigenous cultures and their ancestral
relationship to the earth”.
He said confrontation and conflict can be overcome through
“prior and informed consent” of indigenous peoples for initiates proposed by
governing authorities.
The Holy Father said the second aspect “concerns the
development of guidelines and projects which take into account indigenous
identity”.
He called on governments to recognize “that indigenous
communities are a part of the population to be appreciated and consulted, and
whose full participation should be promoted at the local and national level”.
The Pope said IFAD “can contribute effectively to this
needed road map through its funding and expertise”.
IFAD was established in 1977 as an international financial
institution dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries.
Some 75% of the world's poorest people - 1.4 billion women,
children and men - live in rural areas and depend on agriculture and related
activities for their livelihoods.
Please find below the official translation of the
Pope’s speech:
Dear Friends,
I am pleased to welcome you at the conclusion of the third
Indigenous Peoples’ Forum convened by the International Fund for Agricultural
Development, which this year is celebrating the fortieth anniversary of its
foundation.
You have come together to identify ways of giving greater
economic empowerment to indigenous peoples. I believe that the central
issue is how to reconcile the right to development, both social and cultural,
with the protection of the particular characteristics of indigenous peoples and
their territories.
This is especially clear when planning economic activities
which may interfere with indigenous cultures and their ancestral relationship
to the earth. In this regard, the right to prior and informed consent should
always prevail, as foreseen in Article 32 of the Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples. Only then is it possible to guarantee peaceful cooperation
between governing authorities and indigenous peoples, overcoming confrontation
and conflict.
A second aspect concerns the development of guidelines and
projects which take into account indigenous identity, with particular attention
to young people and women; not only considering them, but including them! For
governments this means recognizing that indigenous communities are a part of
the population to be appreciated and consulted, and whose full participation
should be promoted at the local and national level.
IFAD can contribute effectively to this needed road map
through its funding and expertise, keeping in mind that “a technological and
economic development which does not leave in its wake a better world and an
integrally higher quality of life cannot be considered progress” (Encyclical
Letter Laudato Si’, 194).
I offer you heartfelt thanks for your presence, and I ask
the Almighty to bless your communities and to enlighten the work of all those
responsible for governing IFAD.
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