Taino Re-Elected Chair of UN NGO Decade Committee

Taino community activist Roberto Borrero was re-elected Chairperson of the NGO Committee on the United Nations International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples this past December. The Committee is a Special Committee of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organization in consultative status with the United Nations (CONGO).

The NGO Committee on the United Nations International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is currently comprised of 25 non-governmental and community-based organizations. A part of the Committee’s mission is to support the UN General Assembly Resolution, A/RES/59/174, calling for the establishment of a Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People and promote the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The Committee also assists, wherever possible, in the education of the international community about the concerns and issues facing Indigenous Peoples.

The Committee was formed in 1991 as the NGO Committee on the United Nations International Year of the World’s Indigenous People in support of UN General Assembly Resolution 45/164 proclaiming the year 1993 as the International Year for the World’s Indigenous People. The Committee operated as such until 31 December 1993, when it became the NGO Committee on the United Nations International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, in accordance with the adoption of GA Resolution 48/163 of 21 December 1993, proclaiming the International Decade.

Borrero, who represents the United Confederation of Taino People and the Wittenberg Center for Alternative Resources, has actively participated within the Committee since its establishment.