Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM)

in the first place. Additionally, as mentioned in the
introduction, there is no definitive level of wealth
that constitutes “poverty;” instead, it is necessary
to develop policies that help each indigenous group
reach their own version of economic sufficiency. 199
Another way of making the MDGs more relevant to
indigenous peoples is to require nations to discuss
such populations in their regular MdG reports.
Each of the causes of impoverishment among
indigenous peoples discussed above requires unique
solutions. The easiest one to solve is most likely
the lack of participation of indigenous peoples in
the development discussion. Most governments
simply do not seek input from indigenous groups
concerning developmental polices and initiatives,
and it should not be very difficult for governments to
create methods of encouraging participation. Such
solutions could involve more budget transparency for
development programs or the creation of indigenous
advisory councils. 200 Some suggest that the process of
political empowerment only occurs over a long period
of time and that local direct empowerment may have
a more immediate effect. There is evidence from
other aspects of development that this strategy may
work. In some rural, impoverished districts in Mexico,
for example, parents were given the ability to allocate
small sums of money for various education programs;
Specialized proposals are necessary for each indigenous group to
lift them from poverty and improve their well-being.
after this system was initiated, the standardized test
scores of these schools improved. 201
Other causes of impoverishment among indigenous
peoples may be more difficult to solve. The Declaration
on the Rights of indigenous Peoples explicitly protects
indigenous land rights, but most countries have failed
to implement these policies on a national level. Thus,
the framework exists to solve this problem, but it is
now a matter of putting it into practice. A successful
solution to this problem will involve the creation of
a system for evaluating indigenous land rights and
adjudicating disputes between indigenous peoples
and private corporations. Such a proposal could also
include a method of compensation for past and future
relocations. A complex plan is also needed to stop
indigenous peoples from being denied basic services,
housing, and employment because of their ethnicity.
Some suggest that countries implement affirmative
action-type programs for public employment, and
housing so that indigenous minorities that are unable
to secure jobs and housing in the private sector are
protected. 202 Alternatively, stricter laws and penalties
can be enforced to prevent such discrimination in the
public and private sectors.
The effects of trade liberalization are perhaps the
most difficult aspect of this problem to solve. Many
scholars and politicians consider trade liberalization
to be an instrumental part of the modern economy
and a necessary condition for sustained economic
growth, so it is unlikely that most governments
would be willing to act to increase tariffs and keep
out transnational companies to protect indigenous
industries and land rights. Possible solutions will
have to focus on preventing the effects of trade
liberalization from harming indigenous peoples. Such
measures could include programs to compensate
indigenous workers for lost earnings or the creation
of protected areas for indigenous groups to continue
their traditional lifestyles free from interference from
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