1. Urgente, Río+20: Estados pretenden reducir al mínimo regulaciones y
salvaguardas respecto a la minería
Sander Otten )
En las negociaciones que se desarrollan en Nueva York se modifican los párrafos
referentes a la minería en el Borrador Cero, ignorando el consentimiento previo, libre
e informado.
En Nueva York se está realizando en estos momentos una nueva ronda de negociaciones
del Borrador Cero del documento que será aprobado por los Estados en la Conferencia
de Naciones Unidas sobre Desarrollo Sostenible Río+20. El Grupo Principal de Pueblos
Indígenas denunció que ayer dos párrafos sobre la minería se han negociado a toda
prisa, sin el debido cuidado y diligencia necesaria para sus vastas repercusiones
negativas en muchos aspectos para el desarrollo sostenible.
La carta remitida a los delegados y delegadas de los Estados que participan en la ronda
enfatiza la necesidad de respetar el consentimiento previo e informado antes de aprobar
cualquier emprendimiento minero.
Producto de las negociaciones, agrega el documento, los párrafos referidos a la minería
no reflejan una visión equilibrada y el enfoque de la situación real en las comunidades
afectadas por la minería, ni tampoco son una respuesta creíble a las demandas actuales,
que requieren un fuerte liderazgo gubernamental para hacer frente a los problemas de
los conflictos sociales, las graves violaciones de los derechos humanos, la
profundización del empobrecimiento de las comunidades afectadas, y la destrucción de
ríos, paisajes terrestres y marinos.
Para los pueblos indígenas, Río+20 debe proveer un liderazgo más fuerte de los Estados
para vigilar que actividades extractivas como la minería cumplan estándares

2. ambientales y de respeto a los derechos humanos y colectivos, en particular el derecho
al consentimiento previo, libre e informado a las comunidades afectadas, como lo
establecen los instrumentos internacionales.
En este marco, es indispensable insistir en el establecimiento de regulaciones y
salvaguardas y no solo presentar las contribuciones de la minería de manera demasiado
positiva. Frente a ello, los pueblos indígenas piden a los Estados considerar los derechos
de los pueblos indígenas en el texto que se pretende modificar.
Finalmente, los pueblos indígenas reiteran su llamado a incluir explícitamente la
Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas en
todo lo concerniente a las contribuciones de los pueblos indígenas al desarrollo
sostenible, así como a apoyar el consentimiento previo, libre e informado de los pueblos
indígenas para el uso de los conocimientos tradicionales, en consonancia con la
Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas y el
Protocolo de Nagoya.
Adjuntamos: los párrafos sobre minería en inglés que se negocian actualmente en la
sede de Naciones Unidas en Nueva York.
Mayo 31 del 2012,
Comunicaciones CAOI
Mining
Mining 1. We acknowledge that minerals and metals are important for the world economy
and modern societies. We note that mining industries are important to all countries with
mineral resources, in particular developing countries. We also note that, [when managed,
regulated and taxed properly – G77, Azerbaijan delete / when managed sustainably - EU],
mining offers the opportunity to catalyze broad-based economic development, reduce poverty
and assist countries in meeting internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs.
We acknowledge that countries have the sovereign right to develop their mineral resources
according to their national priorities and further acknowledge that mining activities should
maximize social and economic benefits as well as effectively addressing negative
environmental and social impacts, in line with the Rio principles. In this regard, we recognize
that governments need strong capacities to develop, manage, and regulate their mining
industries in the interests of sustainable development.
Mining 2. We [call on countries with a mining sector to strengthen their / recognize the
importance of strong and effective – Canada, US] legal and regulatory frameworks and
policies and practices for the mining sector that deliver economic and social benefits and
include effective safeguards that reduce social and environmental impacts as well as conserve
biodiversity and ecosystem [services – G77 delete]. We further call on governments and the
mining sector to [commit / promote – G77] to the continuous improvement of accountability
and transparency, [taking account of best practices in public financial management and
revenue and contract transparency – G77 delete], and to [explore new mechanisms / improve

3. the effectiveness of existing mechanisms and explore with industry and other stakeholders
new ways – Canada, US; Azerbaijan retain] to prevent conflict minerals from entering
legitimate supply chains.
STATEMENT BY THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES MAJOR GROUP
May 30, 2012 Working Group 1
Thank you Mr. Chairman for this opportunity to speak on behalf of the indigenous peoples
major group.
Distinguished delegates - this is an appeal from Indigenous Peoples on the issues of mining
and on the need to uphold prior, informed consent on the use of traditional knowledge.
This morning two paragraphs on mining were hastily negotiated, in our view, without the due
care and diligence required for its far-reaching negative impacts on many aspects of
sustainable development being agreed in this room: on water, food, biodiversity, oceans,
sustainable consumption and production, poverty eradication, safeguards for vulnerable
groups and indigenous peoples’ rights.
The mining paragraphs as they stand do not reflect a balanced view and approach to the real
situation in mining communities, nor are they a credible response to current demands, which
call for strong government leadership to address the problems of heightened conflicts
between governments and society, gross human rights violations, deepening impoverishment
of affected communities, despoiled rivers, landscapes and seascapes.
Mining is admittedly one of the most difficult sectors to manage in relation to sustainable
development, it was hard to reach agreement on this theme during CSD19. It is one issue that
would clearly benefit from multi-stakeholder engagement and enhanced oversight at global,
national and local levels. Rio +20 must provide stronger leadership, and mining countries will
need increased support to carry out their responsibilities post-Rio, and not left to carry on
business as usual.

4. The original paragraphs presented by the Co-Chairs, which we already considered too positive,
tried to present the contributions by mining, but also the need for regulation and safeguards.
We believe that the current mining text needs to be strengthened and we invite governments
to engage the concerns of indigenous peoples and civil society as further consultations are
carried out to improve the present unacceptable text.
Current paragraph 43 on the contributions of indigenous peoples to sustainable development
was one of the first paragraphs to be agreed ad ref. and the UN Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples is clearly highly relevant in this regard. We also call on the European Union
to support the requirement on the prior informed consent of indigenous peoples for the use of
traditional knowledge, consistent with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,
and the Nagoya Protocol, as contained in Biodiversity 1.