(Image by Latin Press)
Bolivia achieved new success today at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly with the adoption of its proposal for an interactive dialogue on the possible convening of an Earth Assembly.
Resolution A/C.2/77/L.60, promoted by the Andean-Amazonian country in this multilateral organization, has scheduled this debate between States for April 2023, analyzing whether this meeting will last a year takes place later.
According to the second point of the resolution, the Presidium of the General Assembly will convene an “interactive dialogue between member states, to be celebrated on the 24th Mother Earth Day”.
The invitation reaches the structures of the United Nations system, independent specialists and other relevant stakeholders, especially indigenous peoples.
The purpose of the April 2023 meeting was to “discuss the possible convening and scope of a high-level meeting, tentatively titled the Earth Assembly, to be held on April 22, 2024,” the document said.
To this end, experts from the Harmony with Nature Knowledge Network are invited to conduct a study on the development of regional, local and national initiatives to protect Mother Earth.
The approved text notes “with appreciation” the proposal by the President of Bolivia Luis Arce to create a group of States of Friends of Harmony with Nature to make innovative, transformative and action-oriented proposals to move towards the present respond and face future challenges with equality and justice.
Bolivia presented this draft resolution in the Second Committee of the General Assembly with the support of the G77 and China, which was unanimously approved by its members.
Recently, the General Assembly also passed by consensus the Resolution on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, also tabled by the Representative of the Plurinational State.
This document was co-sponsored by 47 countries, and its contents renew states’ commitment to protect the individual and collective rights of original indigenous peoples, according to the State Department.
The statement was adopted unanimously and refers for the first time to the self-determination rights of indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation or first contact, as in this context they have the power to live in accordance with their traditions.
Likewise, after its approval, the concept of indigenous peoples with capital letters will be officially used in all United Nations documents, it has been reported.
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