The Wire

Since 1982 the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples has given aboriginal people around the world a grassroots input into the United Nations Human Rights discussions. Now, according to a memo from an indigenous rights activist from Canada, Sharon Venne, just before it was due to celebrate its twenty fifth year of existence, the group has been axed and will not meet this year. No reasons have been given so far. This is ringing alarm bells with aboriginal rights activists everywhere.