University of the Andes, Venezuela and Just Planet
Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples United Nations Human Rights Council
Geneva, 20 February 2015
Reference: Call for submissions for the Study on the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples with respect their cultural heritage, including through their participation in political and public life.
Dear Chairperson and Members of the Expert Mechanism,
The Working Group on Indigenous Peoples of the University of the Andes, Venezuela, with the support of the non-governmental organization Just Planet, is pleased to submit a contribution for the above-mentioned study. The contribution addresses the issue of sacred sites and the right to indigenous collective heritage in Venezuela. The submission focuses on the situation in Venezuela building on principles of international scope. These principles are as follows. •
The notion of indigenous land rights is broader than the rest of indigenous rights that constitute or form part of the notion of cultural diversity. In this respect, article 7 of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions of UNESCO on the promotion of cultural expressions states that: "(...) 1. Parties shall endeavour to create in their territory an environment which encourages individuals and social groups: (a) to create, produce, disseminate, distribute and have access to their own cultural expressions, paying due attention to the special circumstances and needs of women as well as various social groups, including persons belonging to minorities and indigenous peoples;