11/10/21 Kanak people must be ready for all the challenges of their country

James Anaya, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indegenious People has made a report, in August at the 18th session of the Human Rights Council about the situation of the Kanak people in NC;

This is after he conducted an official mission in New-caledonia earlier this year where he met many representatives of Kanak, youth as well as women groups.

He made observations and recommendations to assist the ongoing efforts to advance the Rights of Kanak people on the implementation of the Noumea Accord and the United Nations in the decolonisation process.

Anaya said that consideration should be given to providing the Customary Senate a greater influence and for some matters, a binding authority over decision-making in areas of concern to the Kanak people.

He said the Customary Senate should be provided with sufficient funding to effectively exercise its functions.

Further, all efforts should be made to ensure that the powers of the Customary Senate were not diminished when powers are transferred from  France to New Caledonia, the report said.

“The ability of Kanak people to participate in decision-making at the national level is hampered by the shortage of Kanak individuals in mid and high level civil service position within the Government.

“As New-Caledonia become increasingly autonomous, it is necessary to ensure that Kanak people benefit equally from the opportunities presented by the decolonisation process. France and the Government of New Caledonia should redouble efforts to prepare the Kanak people for leadership positions, through programmes like the “400 cadres” programme referred to in the Noumea Accord.

“Efforts should be made to increase Kanak participation by voting and to remove and existing obstacles to this participation.

“Special attention should be given to ensure Kanak registration for participation in future referenda on the status of NC,” the report said.

The President of the Customary Senate, Samuel GOROMIDO, who attended  Anaya’s presentation in Geneve said the report highlighted was the exact issues that  had been discussed with Anaya during his visit.

“The Customary Senate definitely needs to have its own budget and to be independent from the Government of New-Caledonia,” he said.

The Customary Senate, Goromido said, is the structure  for the Kanak people to work on the Kanak identity as referred to the organic law of the Noumea Accord. Samuel Goromido has approved this report and will take it to continue the efforts for the Kanak people as a tool for the future, he said.

Magalie TINGAL

October 2011