The United Nation Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination issued an "early warning and urgent action" last week to the United States for its handling of Western Shoshone land rights.

The committee said it received "credible information" that the U.S. was taking steps to violate the rights of the Western Shoshones. The information included attempts to privatize and develop ancestral land that is protected by the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley.

The UN called on the U.S. to initiate a dialogue with Western Shoshone people, halt plasn to develop and privatize ancestral land and stop efforts to limit the use of ancestral lands for fishing, hunting, grazing and other activities.

The U.S. was given until July 15 to respond to the action. The committee has no power to force the U.S. to act.

Get the Story:
U.N. panel backs tribe in dispute over rights to land (AP 3/13)
Press Release: COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION CONCLUDES SIXTY-EIGHTH SESSION (UN 3/10)

Relevant Links:
Western Shoshone Defense Project - http://www.wsdp.org
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/cerd.htm

Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act:
Bill Report | H.R.884 | S.618

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