About the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

In September 2000, world leaders from 189 countries came together to adopt the United Nations Millennium Declaration, committing their nations to reduce extreme poverty and setting a series of targets to be reached by the end of 2015. This resulted in eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)– which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spreading of HIV/AIDS and providing primary education worldwide.

Indigenous Peoples and MDGs

Several reports point out that indigenous peoples are lagging behind in the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Indigenous and tribal women commonly face additional gender–based disadvantages and discrimination. Concern has also been expressed that the effort to meet the targets laid down for the achievement of the MDGs could in fact have harmful effects on indigenous and tribal peoples, such as acceleration of the loss of their lands and natural resources or the displacement from those lands.

Most indigenous peoples today still have a way of life, which is closely connected to and dependent on their natural environment [link to about IPs]. Access to their land and resources is therefore essential for their survival and well being. Given this close link between poverty and the loss of land and natural resources, realizing MDG 7 (ensuring a sustainable livelihood) is of particular relevance to realize poverty reduction (MDG1) for indigenous peoples.

Working with indigenous peoples on the MDGs requires a culturally sensitive approach based on respect for and inclusion of indigenous peoples’ worldviews, perspectives, experiences, and concepts of development. Therefore, in recent years, there has been a concerted process to define global indicators for indigenous peoples’ well being and sustainable development.

At the international level various new policies on indigenous peoples and development have  emerged, taking into account the provisions of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was adopted in 2007. These policies and guidelines set out a broad normative policy and operational framework for implementing a human rights-based and culturally sensitive approach to development cooperation for and in cooperation with indigenous peoples.

Dutch policies on MDGs and indigenous peoples

The Dutch policies for development cooperation are also focused on the realization of the MDGs, especially for the most vulnerable groups. Even though indigenous people belong to these groups, the Dutch government has not set special policies for indigenous peoples.  In 1993, the Netherlands was one of the first European Union (EU) countries to adopt a formal policy on indigenous peoples, but this policy has since not been reviewed. Furthermore, the Dutch government has voted for the adoption of the UNDRIP, but has not developed any specific policies towards its implementation. Due to the prevailing of the sectoral approach in the Dutch development policies with regard to the realization of the MDGs, the special attention that is needed to address the specific needs, rights, cultures, visions and situations of indigenous peoples, seems to fall off the radar screen.