Indigenous Peoples and

the United Nations

Human Rights
System

Fact Sheet No.

9 Rev.2
Indigenous Peoples and
the United Nations
Human Rights System

Fact Sheet No. 9/Rev.2

UNITED NATIONS
New York and Geneva, 2013
 NOTE
The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this pub-
lication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part
of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any
country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimita-
tion of its frontiers or boundaries.

* *

Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters com-

bined with figures. Mention of such a figure indicates a reference to a United
Nations document.

II
 CONTENTS

Page
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ....................................... IV

INTRODUCTION.................................................................. 1

Chapters

III.  INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RIGHTS ..................................... 4

A. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples ........................................................ 4
B. ILO Convention concerning Indigenous and Tribal
Peoples in Independent Countries, 1989 (No. 169) ............ 9
C. Regional and domestic application of the rights of
indigenous peoples ........................................................ 9
III.  INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE ........... 11
A. United Nations human rights system............................... 11
B. Bringing human rights issues to the United Nations ........... 23
III. OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS..................................................... 27
A. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights........ 27
B.   Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
B.   Human Rights............................................................ 27
C.  Cooperation at the United Nations on indigenous
 peoples’ issues........................................................... 30
IV.  REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEMS............................. 33
A. African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.......... 33
B. Organization of American States................................... 34
C. Council of Europe and European Court of Human Rights.... 35
IV. OTHER UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES AND
INTERNATIONAL BODIES WORKING ON INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES’ ISSUES............................................................ 36
Further reading .................................................................... 41

III
Acronyms and abbreviations

ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development
ILO International Labour Organization
OAS Organization of American States
OHCHR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNEP United Nations Environment Programme
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization
UNFPA United Nations Population Fund
UN-Habitat United Nations Human Settlement Programme
UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund
UNITAR United Nations Institute for Training and Research
UN-Women United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and
the Empowerment of Women
UPR universal periodic review
WHO World Health Organization
WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization

IV
INTRODUCTION
The rights of indigenous peoples have, over the past three decades, become
an important component of international law and policy, as a result of a
movement driven by indigenous peoples, civil society, international mecha-
nisms and States at the domestic, regional and international levels. The Unit-
ed Nations human rights system—its mechanisms, laws and policies—have
been at the heart of these developments with bodies such as the United Na-
tions Working Group on Indigenous Populations playing a groundbreaking
role, which is continued by the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms,
in cooperation with other key actors, including the United Nations Permanent
Forum on Indigenous Issues.

One of its main achievements was the General Assembly’s adoption in

2007 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peo-
ples, which, by 2010, was supported by the vast majority of United Na-
tions Member States and opposed by none. It was the result of decades of
negotiation between States and indigenous peoples, coming together in a
spirit of partnership to endorse the Indigenous Declaration. It applies human
rights to indigenous peoples and their specific situations, thereby helping to
reverse their historical exclusion from the international legal system.

International activity on indigenous peoples’ issues has been expanding also

in regional human rights bodies, such as the African and inter-American hu-
man rights systems, and into international law and policy areas as diverse as
the environment (including climate change), intellectual property and trade.

This Fact Sheet provides a reader-friendly overview of the United Nations

human rights system and the rights of indigenous peoples. It is designed to
give readers:

• A summary of indigenous peoples’ rights;

• An overview of the international human rights bodies and mecha-
nisms in relation to indigenous peoples;
• A description of the activities of the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) related to indigenous peo-
ples;
• A brief summary of relevant regional human rights systems as they
engage with indigenous peoples and protect their human rights; and
• A summary of some United Nations agencies, beyond the human
rights framework, engaged in indigenous peoples’ issues.
The Fact Sheet also refers to further sources of information.

1
Who are indigenous peoples?
Indigenous peoples live on all continents, from the Arctic to the Pacific, via
Asia, Africa and the Americas. There is no singularly authoritative definition
of indigenous peoples under international law and policy, and the Indig-
enous Declaration does not set out any definition. In fact, its articles 9 and
33 state that indigenous peoples and individuals have the right to belong
to an indigenous community or nation, in accordance with the traditions
and customs of the community or nation concerned, and that they have the
right to determine their own identity. The International Labour Organization’s
(ILO) Convention concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent
Countries (No. 169) distinguishes between tribal and indigenous peoples as
follows, highlighting also the importance of self-identification:

1. … (a) Tribal peoples in independent countries whose social, cultural

and economic conditions distinguish them from other sections of the
national community, and whose status is regulated wholly or partially by
their own customs or traditions or by special laws or regulations;

(b) Peoples in independent countries who are regarded as indigenous

on account of their descent from the populations which inhabited the
country, or a geographical region to which the country belongs, at the
time of conquest or colonization or the establishment of present State
boundaries and who, irrespective of their legal status, retain some or all
of their own social, economic, cultural and political institutions.

2.  Self-identification as indigenous or tribal shall be regarded as a

fundamental criterion for determining the groups to which the provisions
of this Convention apply.

Despite the lack of an authoritative definition, there are criteria that help to
define indigenous peoples. The main one is the criterion of self-identification
and those proposed by José Martínez Cobo in his “Study of the problem of
discrimination against indigenous populations”,1 which include:

• Historical continuity with pre-invasion and/or pre-colonial societies

that developed on their territories;
• Distinctiveness;
• Non-dominance; and
• A determination to preserve, develop and transmit to future genera-

1
  E/CN.4/Sub.2/1986/7 and Adds. 1–4.

2
 tions their ancestral territories and identity as peoples in accordance
with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal system.
The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples has stressed, in
addition to the above:
• A strong link to territories and surrounding natural resources;
• Distinct social, economic or political systems; and
• Distinct language, culture and beliefs.
Many indigenous peoples populated areas before the arrival of others and
often retain distinct cultural and political characteristics, including autonomous
political and legal structures, as well as a common experience of domina-
tion by others, especially non-indigenous groups, and a strong historical and
ongoing connection to their lands, territories and resources, including when
they practise nomadic lifestyles. While the legal status of indigenous peoples
is distinct from that of minorities, they are often, though not always, in the
minority in the States in which they reside. Minorities and indigenous peoples
have some similar rights under international law, although the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is arguably more comprehen-
sive than international legal instruments associated with minorities.

3
I.  INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RIGHTS
Indigenous peoples’ rights under international law have evolved from exist-
ing international law, including human rights treaties, to address the specific
circumstances facing indigenous peoples as well as their priorities, such as
rights to their lands, territories and resources, and self-determination.

Unfortunately, many indigenous peoples continue to face a range of human

rights issues. In fact, the implementation of their rights is far from perfect.
Some of the most difficult human rights challenges for indigenous peoples
stem from pressures on their lands, territories and resources as a result of
activities associated with development and the extraction of resources. Their
cultures continue to be threatened, and the protection and promotion of their
rights resisted.

Indigenous peoples have had unprecedented access to, and participated

fully in, human rights legal and policy processes at the international level,
reflecting their influence on international decisions affecting them. This is
discussed in more detail below.

A. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of

Indigenous Peoples
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was
adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 13 September 2007
with 144 votes in favour, 11 abstentions and four States against (Australia,
Canada, New Zealand and the United States of America). Since then, a
number of States have changed their position, including the four which voted
against but have now endorsed the Declaration.

The Declaration is the most comprehensive instrument detailing the rights

of indigenous peoples in international law and policy, containing minimum
standards for the recognition, protection and promotion of these rights.
While not uniformly or consistently implemented, the Declaration regularly
guides States and indigenous peoples in developing law and policy that
have an impact on indigenous peoples, including in devising means to best
address the claims made by indigenous peoples. Some of the most important
substantive rights contained in the Declaration and under international law
and policy more broadly are outlined below.

Self-determination
The United Nations General Assembly has, through the adoption of the
Declaration, affirmed that indigenous peoples have the right to self-deter-
mination and, hence, the right to freely determine their political status and

4
freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. Article 3 of
the Declaration mirrors common article 1 of the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights.

Indigenous peoples see self-determination as a central right recognized at

the international level. The implementation of the right to self-determination
also complements the implementation of other rights.

All rights in the Declaration are indivisible and interrelated, and the right to
self-determination is no exception. It colours all other rights, which should be
read in the light of indigenous peoples’ self-determination, such as the right to
culture, which can include indigenous peoples’ autonomy over cultural matters.

In relation to indigenous peoples’ right to autonomy or self-government, arti-

cle 4 states: “indigenous peoples, in exercising their right to self-determina-
tion, have the right to autonomy or self-government in matters relating to their
internal and local affairs, as well as ways and means for financing their au-
tonomous functions.” Related to their right to autonomy, indigenous peoples
have the right, under article 34 of the Declaration, to “promote, develop and
maintain their institutional structures and their distinctive customs, spirituality,
traditions, procedures, practices and, in the cases where they exist, juridical
systems or customs ….”

The right to self-determination is closely related to indigenous peoples’ politi-

cal rights. These include their right to participate in decision-making in matters
that would affect their rights and States’ duties to consult and cooperate with
them to obtain their free, prior and informed consent before adopting and
implementing legislative or administrative measures that may affect them. In
both cases, and consistent with their right to self-determination, indigenous
peoples have the right to participate through their own representative institu-
tions (see art. 18).

The United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

undertook a detailed study of indigenous peoples and the right to participate
in decision-making from 2009 to 2011 and the Special Rapporteur on the
rights of indigenous peoples has focused on indigenous peoples’ participa-
tion rights in reports on both thematic issues and country issues. The work of
the Expert Mechanism and the Special Rapporteur reinforces the growing
jurisprudence on the topic by, for example, the Human Rights Committee
and the Inter-American Court and Commission on Human Rights. Consistent
themes in this evolving understanding of indigenous peoples’ participation

5
rights are that their consent must be sought for activities that have a signifi-
cant impact on them and their lands, territories and resources.2

Rights to lands, territories and resources

The Declaration recognizes indigenous peoples’ rights to their lands, ter-
ritories and resources, including to those traditionally held by them but now
controlled by others as a matter of fact and also of law. For many indigenous
peoples, their relationship to their lands, territories and resources is a defin-
ing feature. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has stressed:
The close ties of indigenous people with the land must be recognized and
understood as the fundamental basis of their cultures, their spiritual life,
their integrity, and their economic survival. For indigenous communities,
relations to the land are not merely a matter of possession and production
but a material and spiritual element which they must fully enjoy, even to
preserve their cultural legacy and transmit it to future generations.3
Supported by developing and authoritative interpretations of existing human
rights law by United Nations human rights treaty bodies and regional hu-
man rights mechanisms, article 26 (1) of the Declaration acknowledges, in
general terms, indigenous peoples’ right to the lands, territories and resources
they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used and article 26 (2)
refers to the lands, territories and resources that they possess under indig-
enous customary conceptions of “ownership”. Article 26 (3) requires States
to give legal recognition and protection to these lands, territories and re-
sources. Article 27 requires States to establish and implement processes
recognizing and adjudicating indigenous peoples’ rights in relation to their
lands, territories and resources.

Economic, social and cultural rights

The provisions of the Declaration and ILO Convention No. 169 are consist-
ent with interpretations of economic, social and cultural rights by the Hu-
man Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights.4 Like the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural

2
 Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, advice No. 2: indigenous peoples
and the right to participate in decision-making (A/HRC/18/42, annex).
3
 Case of the Mayagna (Sumo) Awas Tingni Community v. Nicaragua, Judgement of
31 August 2001, Series C, No. 79, para. 149.
4
 See, for example, Human Rights Committee, general comment No. 23 (1994) on the rights
of minorities and Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, general comment
No. 21 (2009) on the right of everyone to take part in cultural life. Note, also, Inter-Amer-
ican Court of Human Rights, Case of the Plan de Sanchez Massacre v. Guatemala, Series
C, No. 116, Judgement of 19 November 2004.

6
Rights, the Declaration and ILO Convention No. 169 affirm indigenous peo-
ples’ rights to health, education, employment, housing, sanitation, social
security and an adequate standard of living. The Declaration’s article 3 is
of particular importance, articulating their right to freely determine their eco-
nomic, social and cultural development.

To the outside world, and oftentimes also within indigenous communities,

indigenous peoples’ cultural distinctiveness is considered to be one of their
defining features. Giving expression to the right to cultural equality, the Dec-
laration contains numerous provisions to protect against discriminatory and
adverse treatment on cultural grounds as well as positive measures to support
indigenous peoples’ cultures. These include their right not to be subjected to
assimilation or destruction of their culture; the right to practise and revitalize
their cultural traditions and customs, to teach their cultural mores, and to the
repatriation of human remains; and the right to “maintain, control, protect
and develop” their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional
cultural expressions. Given the centrality of culture to many indigenous peo-
ples’ identity, the Declaration also recognizes the right of indigenous indi-
viduals to belong to an indigenous community or nation in accordance with
their community or nation’s traditions and customs.

Collective rights
Indigenous peoples’ rights are, by definition, collective rights. In other words,
they are vested in indigenous individuals that organize themselves as peo-
ples.

While also including rights of individuals, the extent of recognition of collec-

tive rights in the Declaration is groundbreaking. Prior to the Declaration, the
international human rights system had been slow to endorse the concept of
rights vested in groups, with the exception of the right to self-determination.
It had been generally perceived that individuals’ rights would be sufficient to
ensure adequate protection and promotion of rights with a collective dimen-
sion, such as the right to culture.5 However, with the adoption of the Dec-
laration, the international community clearly affirms that indigenous peoples
require recognition of their collective rights as peoples to enable them to
enjoy human rights.

5
 For example, see article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
which refers to “persons belonging to … minorities”.

7
Equality and non-discrimination
Equality and non-discrimination are significant objectives of, and underpin,
both the Declaration and ILO Convention No. 169 on Indigenous and Tribal
Peoples. Indeed, the Declaration’s articles 1 and 2 articulate the right of
indigenous peoples, as a collective or as individuals, to all human rights.
Indigenous peoples and individuals are:

free and equal to all other peoples and individuals and have the right to
be free from any kind of discrimination, in the exercise of their rights, in
particular that based on their indigenous origin or identity.

The recognition of their rights overall is fully justified from an equality and
non-discrimination perspective, taking into account the discrimination they
have experienced historically as peoples and individuals. An equality and
non-discrimination approach also supports the recognition of their collective
rights to their lands, territories and resources as being equivalent to the rights
of non-indigenous individuals to their property, as the Inter-American Court of
Human Rights has found.6

Rights in relation to treaties, agreements and other constructive

arrangements between indigenous peoples and States
The Declaration also uniquely provides for indigenous peoples’ right to “the
recognition, observance and enforcement of treaties, agreements and other
constructive arrangements concluded with States or their successors and to
have States honour and respect such treaties, agreements and other construc-
tive arrangements.” This reference reflects the growing international focus on
such documents.7

The status of the Declaration under international law

While the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,
as a declaration, is not a formally binding treaty, it contains rights and free-
doms, such as self-determination and non-discrimination, set out in binding
international human rights treaty law, of which some may be considered
customary international law. It reflects a global consensus on indigenous
peoples’ rights. Moreover, according to the Office of Legal Affairs of the
United Nations Secretariat, “a ‘declaration’ is a solemn instrument resorted
to only in very rare cases relating to matters of major and lasting importance
6
 Case of the Mayagna (Sumo) Awas Tingni Community v. Nicaragua; Case of the
Sawhoyamaxa Indigenous Community v. Paraguay, Series C, No. 146, Judgement of 29
March 2006.
7
 See also “Study on treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements between States
and indigenous populations” (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1999/20).

8
where maximum compliance is expected”.8 The United Nations Declara-
tion on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is such a declaration deserving of
the utmost respect. This is confirmed by the words used in its first preambu-
lar paragraph, according to which the General Assembly, in adopting it,
was “guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations, and good faith in the fulfilment of the obligations assumed by
States in accordance with the Charter” (emphasis added). Moreover, on
the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People in 2008, the United
Nations Secretary-General stated:

The Declaration is a visionary step towards addressing the human rights

of indigenous peoples. It sets out a framework on which States can
build or re-build their relationships with indigenous peoples. The result
of more than two decades of negotiations, it provides a momentous op-
portunity for States and indigenous peoples to strengthen their relation-
ships, promote reconciliation, and ensure that the past is not repeated.

B. ILO Convention concerning Indigenous and Tribal

Peoples in Independent Countries, 1989 (No. 169)
ILO Convention No. 169 and its predecessor, ILO Convention concerning
the Protection and Integration of Indigenous and Other Tribal and Semi-
Tribal Populations in Independent Countries, 1957 (No. 107), are the only
conventions specifically dealing with indigenous peoples rights. Conven-
tion No. 169 is fundamentally concerned with non-discrimination.9 While
ultimately not as comprehensive as the Declaration, it covers indigenous
peoples’ rights to development, customary laws, lands, territories and re-
sources, employment, education and health. Moreover, it signalled, at the
time of its adoption in 1989, a greater international responsiveness to indig-
enous peoples’ demands for greater control over their way of life and institu-
tions. At the time of writing, ILO Convention No. 169 had been ratified by
22 countries, mainly in Latin America.

C. Regional and domestic application of the rights of

indigenous peoples
Over the past decade, legal developments at regional level have contributed
much to the evolution of international jurisprudence as it relates to indigenous
peoples. The above-mentioned decisions of the Inter-American Court of Hu-

8
 Report of the Commission on Human Rights on its eighteenth session (E/3616/Rev.1),
para. 105.
9
 For more information, see ILO, Indigenous and Tribal Peoples’ Rights in Practice: A Guide
to ILO Convention No. 169 (Geneva, 2009) and www.ilo.org/indigenous/Conventions/
no169/lang--en/index.htm (accessed 4 June 2013).

9
man Rights and the decision of the African Commission on Human and Peo-
ples’ Rights in the Endorois case confirm that indigenous peoples’ rights to
their lands, territories and resources, as well as the principle of their free, prior
and informed consent, are part of the corpus of binding human rights law.10

The rights of indigenous peoples are also increasingly being formally in-
corporated into domestic legal systems. Courts, too, have been instrumen-
tal in the application of the rights of indigenous peoples articulated at the
international level in domestic cases.11 More broadly, and oftentimes with
the involvement of national human rights institutions, governmental policy af-
fecting indigenous peoples increasingly takes into account their rights under
international human rights law.

10
 Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group International (on
behalf of Endorois Welfare Council) v. Kenya, communication No. 276/03 (25 Novem-
ber 2009). See also chapter IV, section B, below. For more analysis, see Luis Rodríguez
Pinero, “The inter-American system and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples: Mutual reinforcement” in Reflections on the UN Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples, Stephen Allen and Alexandra Xanthaki, eds. (Oxford, Hart, 2011).
11
 See, for example, Aurelio Cal et al. v. Attorney General of Belize (Supreme Court of
Belize, 2007).

10
II. INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL
INFRASTRUCTURE

A.  United Nations human rights system

The United Nations human rights system has two main components: the
Charter-based bodies and the treaty-based bodies. The former are so called
because they derive their authority from the Charter of the United Nations, its
constituting document. The latter are so called because they are established
by specific human rights treaties, such as the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights, which provides for the establishment of the Human Rights
Committee.

Both the Charter-based bodies and the treaty bodies devoted to human rights
are serviced by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights (OHCHR), which is discussed in chapter III.

1.  Charter-based bodies

General Assembly

Human Rights Economic and

Council Social Council

Expert Mechanism on Special Rapporteur Permanent Forum on

the Rights of on the rights of Indigenous
Indigenous Peoples indigenous people Issues

Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council is one of six principal bodies established
under the Charter of the United Nations.12 Its mandate includes human rights
and, until 2006, it was the parent body of the Commission on Human
Rights. When the Human Rights Council replaced the Commission in 2006,

 The others are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the International Court of
12

Justice, the Trusteeship Council and the Secretariat.

11
it was placed under the direct authority of the General Assembly rather than
the Economic and Social Council.

The Economic and Social Council continues to play an important role in

indigenous peoples’ issues, not least because it is the parent body of, and is
advised by, the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, from
which it receives an annual report.

Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

The Permanent Forum was established by Economic and Social Council
resolution 2000/22, in response to demands from indigenous peoples for a
high-level body that could promote dialogue and cooperation among Mem-
ber States, United Nations agencies and indigenous peoples. It is mandated
to advise the Economic and Social Council in relation to economic and
social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human
rights, and to:

• Provide expert advice and recommendations on indigenous issues to

the Council, as well as to programmes, funds and agencies of the
United Nations, through the Council;
• Raise awareness and promote the integration and coordination of ac-
tivities related to indigenous issues within the United Nations system;
and
• Prepare and disseminate information on indigenous issues.
The Permanent Forum has 16 members, who serve in their personal capacity
for a three-year term and may be re-elected or reappointed for one addi-
tional term. Eight of the members are nominated by States and elected by
the Economic and Social Council, based on the five regional groupings nor-
mally used at the United Nations (Africa; Asia; Eastern Europe; Latin America
and the Caribbean; and Western Europe and other States). The other eight
are nominated directly by indigenous organizations and are appointed by
the President of the Economic and Social Council. They represent seven
sociocultural regions to give broad representation to the world’s indigenous
peoples: Africa; Asia; Central and South America and the Caribbean; the
Arctic; Central and Eastern Europe, the Russian Federation, Central Asia and
Transcaucasia; North America; and the Pacific—with one additional rotat-
ing seat among the first three.

The Permanent Forum met for the first time in 2002. During its annual two-
week sessions, it reviews and assesses the work of the United Nations system
related to indigenous peoples and their rights. It considers issues in relation to

12
its mandate, including human rights. It also identifies a specific theme as the
overall framework for its sessions, alternating with a review every other year.

Since the adoption of the Declaration in 2007, the Permanent Forum has
focused on the implementation of the Declaration and carries out its mandate
keeping this in mind. In recent years, the Forum has held comprehensive
dialogues with specific United Nations agencies, programmes and funds on
their policies and programmes to achieve the objectives of the Declaration,
with a view to providing States and indigenous peoples, as well as its own
members, an opportunity to raise questions. The Forum also focuses attention
on a specific region each year, as a means of highlighting the situation of the
indigenous peoples in that region and the challenges they face.

A key element of its work is the studies that its members carry out on specific
matters of concern to indigenous peoples, for example in relation to climate
change, forests, shifting cultivation, law and policy, violence against indig-
enous women and girls, constitutional processes, and so on. These studies
form the basis for the substantive discussions at the annual sessions, and
help the members identify the key areas for the Forum’s recommendations to
States, United Nations agencies and other partners. In more recent years the
Permanent Forum has also conducted country visits. Each year it also orga-
nizes expert seminars and workshops on emerging issues of importance to
indigenous peoples, which inform and enrich its annual sessions.

Its annual session in New York are widely attended by Member States,
indigenous peoples’ representatives and organizations/institutions, indig-
enous parliamentarians, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes,
non-State actors and others—who all participate as observers. By providing
a space for indigenous peoples and Member States to share good practices
and learn from diverse experiences in responding to the challenge of better
realizing the rights and aspirations of indigenous peoples, the Forum has
established itself as an important venue for addressing current and emerging
issues affecting indigenous peoples.

The Permanent Forum is recognized as one of the key global gatherings

on indigenous peoples’ issues, drawing on the United Nations convening
power to facilitate cooperation and dialogue among its different partners.

Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the United
Nations system. It is made up of 47 States and is responsible for the promo-
tion and protection of all human rights around the globe.

13
Many of the thematic and country issues it addresses are relevant to the rights
of indigenous peoples. The Human Rights Council also focuses specifically
on indigenous peoples’ rights, usually during its September session, when it:

• Conducts an interactive dialogue with the Expert Mechanism on the

Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Special Rapporteur on the rights
of indigenous peoples;
• Holds a panel discussion on specific indigenous peoples’ issues; and
• Adopts its annual resolution on indigenous peoples and human rights,
which usually mandates the Expert Mechanism to consider specific
issues, decides the theme of the annual panel on indigenous peoples’
issues within the Human Rights Council, and acknowledges the re-
ports of the Expert Mechanism and the Special Rapporteur and other
indigenous-related activities.
The Human Rights Council also considers the annual report of OHCHR in
relation to indigenous peoples.

The Human Rights Council addresses the implementation of human rights in

a number of ways, including through its complaints procedure and universal
periodic review, outlined in more detail below. It is also advised by its sub-
sidiary expert body, the Advisory Committee.

Indigenous peoples’ participation in

the United Nations human rights system
Indigenous peoples have acquired, for non-State actors, unprecedented access
to the United Nations human rights system and especially those bodies that fo-
cus on indigenous peoples’ issues, such as the Permanent Forum and the Expert
Mechanism. The practice of enabling them to participate in some of the United
Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms as indigenous peoples’ organiza-
tions, without the usually necessary accreditation with the Economic and Social
Council, began with the Working Group on Indigenous Populations.
The extent of their participation in the United Nations is reflected at the annual ses-
sions of the Permanent Forum and the Expert Mechanism, which literally hundreds
of indigenous individuals attend. During those sessions, they also have the op-
portunity to meet the Special Rapporteur in person to explain the specific human
rights issues they are facing.
Following a recommendation by the Expert Mechanism, the Human Rights Coun-
cil requested the Secretary-General in 2011 to prepare a document “on ways
and means of promoting participation at the United Nations of recognized indig-
enous peoples’ representatives on issues affecting them, given that they are not
always organized as non-governmental organizations, and on how such partici-
pation might be structured” (resolution 18/8).

14
Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was established
in 2007 by the Human Rights Council,13 of which it is a subsidiary body.

It comprises five experts on the rights of indigenous peoples, usually one

from each of the world’s five geopolitical regions, with indigenous origin a
relevant factor in their appointment, in accordance with resolution 6/36.

The mandate of the Expert Mechanism is to provide the Human Rights Coun-
cil with thematic expertise, mainly in the form of studies and research, on the
rights of indigenous peoples as directed by the Council. The Expert Mecha-
nism may also make proposals to the Council for its consideration and ap-
proval, within the scope of its work as set out by the Council.

The Expert Mechanism’s first study examined lessons learned and challenges
to achieve the implementation of the right of indigenous peoples to education
(A/HRC/12/33) and was finalized in 2009. Its second study, undertaken
over two years, examined indigenous peoples and the right to participation
in decision-making (A/HRC/18/42). The Expert Mechanism studied the
role of languages and culture in the promotion and protection of the rights
and identity of indigenous peoples (A/HRC/21/53) in 2011–2012 and
indigenous peoples’ access to justice in 2012–2013. Each study is pre-
sented to the Human Rights Council and, from 2011 onwards, is the subject
of an interactive dialogue between the Council and the Expert Mechanism
during one of the Council’s sessions.

Each study includes advice which outlines the Expert Mechanism’s key find-
ings related to the human right under study in the indigenous context.

The Expert Mechanism is a key body within the United Nations human rights
structure in Geneva and provides a space for indigenous peoples to raise
thematic human rights issues, related to the specific study undertaken by the
Expert Mechanism each year. Like the former Working Group on Indigenous
Populations, the rules governing participation in its annual sessions are rela-
tively open, so that indigenous peoples’ organizations and individuals can
usually attend if they have successfully applied for accreditation. Hundreds of
representatives of indigenous peoples’ organizations, indigenous individuals
and non-governmental organizations attend the annual sessions.

More information, including documentation associated with the Expert

Mechanism, is available from www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/
EMRIP/Pages/EMRIPIndex.aspx (accessed 4 June 2013).

  Human Rights Council resolution 6/36.

13

15
Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples
The Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples is a so-called
special procedure of the Human Rights Council. The mandate of the Special
Rapporteur was established in 2001 by the Commission on Human Rights
and continued by the Human Rights Council in 2007.14 The Special Rap-
porteur reports to the Human Rights Council each year.

The Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, inter alia:15

• Examines ways and means of overcoming existing obstacles to the

full and effective protection of the rights of indigenous peoples, in
conformity with his/her mandate, and identifies, exchanges and pro-
motes best practices;
• Gathers, requests, receives and exchanges information and communi-
cations from all relevant sources, including Governments, indigenous
peoples and their communities and organizations, on alleged viola-
tions of the rights of indigenous peoples;
• Formulates recommendations and proposals on appropriate mea-
sures and activities to prevent and remedy violations of the rights of
indigenous peoples; and
• Works in close cooperation and coordination with other special
procedures and subsidiary organs of the Council, in particular with
the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, relevant
United Nations bodies, the treaty bodies and regional human rights
organizations.
In fulfilling this mandate, the Special Rapporteur assesses the situation of
indigenous peoples in specific countries; carries out thematic studies; com-
municates with Governments, indigenous peoples and others concerning
allegations of violations of indigenous peoples’ rights; and promotes good
practices for the protection of these rights. The Special Rapporteur also re-
ports annually to the Human Rights Council on particular human rights is-
sues involving indigenous peoples and coordinates work with the Permanent
Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples.

Information about the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peo-

ples is available from www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/SRIndigenous
Peoples/Pages/SRIPeoplesIndex.aspx (accessed 4 June 2013).

14
 Rodolfo Stavenhagen (Mexico) held the mandate between 2001 and 2008 and James
Anaya (United States) has held it since 2008.
15
  Resolution 15/14.

16
Coordination between the United Nations bodies mandated to focus on
indigenous peoples
The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Permanent
Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Special Rapporteur on the rights of
indigenous peoples meet annually to coordinate their activities and share in-
formation. Representatives of the Permanent Forum usually attend the annual
session of the Expert Mechanism and vice versa. As mentioned above, the
Special Rapporteur attends the annual sessions of both the Permanent Forum
and the Expert Mechanism. The Human Rights Council requests the Perma-
nent Forum, the Expert Mechanism and the Special Rapporteur to carry out
their tasks in a coordinated manner.16

The mandates of the Expert Mechanism, the Special Rapporteur and the
Permanent Forum can be seen as complementary. The Expert Mechanism
undertakes thematic studies. The Special Rapporteur undertakes country
visits, addresses specific cases of alleged human rights violations through
communications with Governments or others and, in addition, undertakes
or contributes to thematic studies. The Permanent Forum focuses on advice
and coordination on indigenous issues within the United Nations and raises
awareness about such issues.

Special procedures
Special procedures refer to mechanisms established by the Human Rights
Council (and its predecessor, the Commission on Human Rights). They “ex-
amine, advise and report on” human rights themes and on the human rights
situation in specific countries and territories.
A number of special procedures, which include independent experts and work-
ing groups, address issues of importance to indigenous peoples, such as hous-
ing, cultural rights, education, poverty, the right to food, health, minorities,
water and internal displacement.
For more information about the Human Rights Council’s special procedures,
see:
• www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/Welcomepage.aspx (ac-
cessed 4 June 2013)
• OHCHR, Working with the United Nations Human Rights Programme: A
Handbook for Civil Society (Geneva, 2008)

  Resolution 18/8.
16

17
 Historical overview of indigenous peoples, their rights
and the United Nations bodies and mechanisms
Indigenous peoples have been bringing claims to the international level for almost
a century. In the 1920s, on separate occasions, Haudenosaunee Chief Deskaheh,
representative of the Iroquois people in Ontario (Canada), and T.W. Ratana,
Maori from Aotearoa/New Zealand, approached the League of Nations to
voice their concerns as representatives of indigenous peoples to an international
body, without tangible result. Similarly, in 1948, a Bolivian initiative in the United
Nations to create a sub-commission to study the social problems of aboriginal
populations was not implemented.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) was the first international body and
the only body associated with the United Nations predecessor, the League of
Nations, to take action on indigenous issues. In 1953 it published a study on
indigenous peoples and in 1957 it adopted Convention No. 107 concerning the
Protection and Integration of Indigenous and Other Tribal and Semi-Tribal Popula-
tions in Independent Countries, the first international and globally focused treaty
to specifically address indigenous peoples’ rights. It was revised in 1989, when
ILO adopted Convention No. 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples
in Independent Countries, eliminating some of the assimilationist and paternalist
tenor of Convention No. 107.

A turning point in indigenous peoples’ rights at the international level came in the
1970s, when the United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination
and Protection of Minorities recommended that a comprehensive study of discrimi-
nation against indigenous populations should be undertaken. In 1971, José R.
Martínez Cobo was appointed to suggest national and international measures for
eliminating such discrimination and between 1981 and 1984 he presented his
groundbreaking study to the Sub-Commission.

Another milestone, contributing to the momentum gathering in the United Nations

human rights system on indigenous peoples’ issues, was the 1977 International
NGO Conference on Discrimination against Indigenous Peoples in the Americas,
where indigenous peoples called for their inclusion.

Activity at the international level led to the Economic and Social Council’s estab-
lishment of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982 as a subsidi-
ary body of the Sub-Commission. This Working Group became a primary venue
for the international indigenous peoples’ movement to meet and advance their
collective global agendas. It was responsible for the early drafts of what would
become the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

In 1995 the former Commission on Human Rights established an open-ended

intersessional working group to consider the draft declaration on the rights of
indigenous peoples as submitted by the Sub-Commission. Made up of States and
with the participation of indigenous individuals and representatives, together with
non-State actors and academia, this open-ended working group met each year
until 2006, when the Chair proposed a draft declaration to the Human Rights
Council. The Council adopted that draft in June of that same year and submitted it
to the General Assembly, which adopted the Declaration in 2007.

18
2. United Nations human rights treaties and their treaty
bodies
United Nations human rights treaty bodies, which monitor the implementa-
tion of the international human rights treaties, have been addressing human
rights issues facing indigenous peoples since the 1970s. They do so by:

• Reviewing State reports on States’ measures to implement the human

rights treaties and providing observations in relation to them;
• Reviewing communications from individuals; and
• In general comments on specific human rights, which explain their
interpretation of human rights.
For more information about the human rights treaty bodies, see OHCHR Fact
Sheet 30: The United Nations Human Rights Treaty System.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Human Rights
Committee
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights protects rights that
are important to indigenous peoples, such as the right to self-determination
(art. 1) and the rights of persons belonging to minorities to enjoy their own
culture, to profess and practise their own religion or to use their own lan-
guage (art. 27).

Over the decades, the Human Rights Committee has rendered decisions
and issued concluding observations under both its individual complaints and
State reporting procedures that elaborate on indigenous peoples’ rights. Im-
portantly, the Human Rights Committee has understood the right to culture of
persons belonging to minorities to encompass indigenous peoples’ rights in
relation to their customary activities, their lands, territories and resources, and
their right to participate in political decisions that affect their cultural rights. In
one decision relating to ancestral burial grounds, it interpreted other rights in
the Covenant—namely the right to family—as understood by the society in
question, stating that “cultural traditions should be taken into account when
defining the term ‘family’ in a specific situation”.17 As a result, “family” was
interpreted to include the relationship between the indigenous complainants
and their ancestral burial grounds.

The Human Rights Committee has found that the right to self-determination
is also relevant when interpreting article 27. Thus, in one of its concluding
observations, it applied article 1 in relation to aboriginal rights, requiring the
 Communication No. 549/1993, Hopu and Bessert v. France, views of 29 July 1997,
17

para. 10.3.

19
State concerned to give indigenous peoples “greater influence in decision-
making affecting their natural environment and their means of subsistence as
well as their own culture.”18

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, like
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, includes the right to
self-determination in article 1, which the Committee on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights has similarly applied in the indigenous peoples’ con-
text. Many of the Covenant’s rights related to employment, family, health,
food, education and especially culture are relevant to situations faced by
indigenous peoples, and the Committee has applied them to call for the
recognition of indigenous peoples’ communally held land rights, under its
State review process. The Committee’s general comment No. 7 (1997) on
the right to adequate housing: forced evictions recognizes that indigenous
peoples suffer disproportionately from forced eviction.

Its general comment No. 21 (2009) on the right of everyone to take part
in cultural life sets out its overarching approach to its interpretation of this
right as expressed in article 15 of the Covenant. It explicitly draws upon the
Indigenous Declaration and includes a section devoted to indigenous peo-
ples’ cultural rights. In it, the Committee emphasizes the communal aspects of
indigenous peoples’ cultural lives and the importance of their ancestral lands
and nature to indigenous cultures. Accordingly, it notes that:

States parties must therefore take measures to recognize and protect

the rights of indigenous peoples to own, develop, control and use their
communal lands, territories and resources, and, where they have been
otherwise inhabited or used without their free and informed consent,
take steps to return these lands and territories.

Moreover, the Committee refers to the core obligation to:

allow and encourage the participation of persons belonging to … in-

digenous peoples … in the design and implementation of laws and
policies that affect them. In particular, States parties should obtain their
free and informed prior consent when the preservation of their cultural
resources, especially those associated with their way of life and cultural
expression, are at risk.

 CCPR/C/USA/CO/3.
18

20
In addition, its general comment No. 17 (2005) on the right of everyone to
benefit from the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from
any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he or she is the author
clarifies that the right extends to indigenous peoples’ knowledge, innovations
and practices. It sets out States’ obligations to adopt measures to ensure
“the effective protection of the interests of indigenous peoples relating to
their productions, which are often expressions of their cultural heritage and
traditional knowledge.”

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrim-

ination and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Dis-
crimination is focused, as its title suggests, on the elimination of racial dis-
crimination. Over the past 15 years especially, its Committee has addressed
a number of indigenous peoples’ issues, from around the globe, through that
lens. Its approach is reflected in its general recommendation XXIII (1997) on
indigenous peoples, which calls on States, inter alia, to:

• Ensure indigenous peoples have equal rights in respect of effective

participation in public life and that no decisions directly relating to
their rights and interests are taken without their informed consent; and
• Recognize and protect the rights of indigenous peoples to own, de-
velop, control and use their communal lands, territories and resources
and, where they have been deprived of their lands and territories
traditionally owned or otherwise inhabited or used without their free
and informed consent, to take steps to return those lands and territo-
ries. Only when this is for factual reasons not possible, the right to
restitution should be substituted by the right to just, fair and prompt
compensation. Such compensation should as far as possible take the
form of lands and territories.

Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on the Rights of
the Child
The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the only global United Nations
human rights treaty to specifically mention indigenous children. Emulating ar-
ticle 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, its article
30 states:

In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities or per-

sons of indigenous origin exist, a child belonging to such a minority or
who is indigenous shall not be denied the right, in community with other

21
 members of his or her group, to enjoy his or her own culture, to profess
and practise his or her own religion, or to use his or her own language.

In addition, under article 29 (1), the education of a child shall be directed

to preparing the child for responsible life in “friendship among all peoples,
ethnic, national and religious groups and persons of indigenous origin.”

In its recommendations on indigenous children specifically, the Committee

on the Rights of the Child has drawn on the Indigenous Declaration and ILO
Convention No. 169, and declared that the right to enjoy one’s culture “may
consist of a way of life which is closely associated with territory and the use
of its resources.”19 In its general comment No. 11 (2009) on indigenous
children and their rights under the Convention, the Committee urges States to
adopt a “rights-based approach to indigenous children based on the Con-
vention and other relevant international standards, such as ILO Convention
No. 169 and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples”; notes the collective element of indigenous peoples’ cultures; and
the calls for consultation with indigenous communities and children in rela-
tion to special measures through legislation and policies for the protection of
indigenous children.

Convention against Torture and the Committee against Torture

The Committee’s general comment No. 2 (2008) on the implementation
of article 2 by States parties underlines their obligation to take measures to
prevent torture and ill-treatment, especially to protect individuals and groups
made vulnerable by discrimination or marginalization. It states that:

The protection of certain minority or marginalized individuals or popula-

tions especially at risk of torture is a part of the obligation to prevent
torture or ill-treatment. States parties must ensure that, insofar as the
obligations arising under the Convention are concerned, their laws are
in practice applied to all persons, regardless of race, colour, ethnicity,
age, religious belief or affiliation, political or other opinion, national or
social origin, gender, sexual orientation, transgender identity, mental
or other disability, health status, economic or indigenous status, reason
for which the person is detained, including persons accused of political
offences or terrorist acts, asylum seekers, refugees or others under inter-
national protection, or any other status or adverse distinction.

 “Day of general discussion on the rights of indigenous children: recommendations”

19

(3 October 2003).

22
B.  Bringing human rights issues to the United Nations
As the above description of the United Nations human rights institutional
structure relevant to indigenous peoples indicates, some of these mechanisms
have the mandate and the capacity to respond to specific allegations of hu-
man rights violations brought by victims and/or their representatives; others
do not.

In strategizing how to seek the best response from the United Nations human
rights system to specific violations or concerns, it is important to consider
whether the mechanism has a mandate to consider such allegations and
what scope it has to respond.

For comprehensive information about the various complaints mechanisms

available, see Working with the United Nations Human Rights Programme:
A Handbook for Civil Society.

1.  Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council considers issues relevant to indigenous peoples

throughout the year as part of its broader human rights agenda. As men-
tioned above, it focuses on indigenous peoples’ issues during its interactive
dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples
and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and during
its annual panel discussion on human rights issues facing indigenous peo-
ples. Indigenous peoples’ organizations and other stakeholders may speak
on the Council’s various agenda items, including in relation to its interactive
dialogue with the Special Rapporteur and the Expert Mechanism.

In addition, indigenous peoples’ representatives and other non-State actors

usually participate in the informal negotiations on the text of the annual Hu-
man Rights Council’s resolution on indigenous peoples. This resolution is
important for a number of reasons; for instance, it usually stipulates the topic
for the study by the Expert Mechanism each year, as well as for the annual
panel discussion.

Universal periodic review

The Human Rights Council’s universal periodic review (UPR) is a unique
mechanism for reviewing States’ compliance with human rights. It was es-
tablished in 2006. Through its Working Group on the Universal Periodic
Review, the Human Rights Council reviews the human rights record of each
United Nations Member State every four and a half years. Indigenous peo-
ples and other non-State actors can participate by submitting information
which is considered for inclusion in a report from “other stakeholders”. This

23
is one of three reports on the basis of which the review will be undertaken.
(The other two are the national report from the State itself and a report on
relevant information contained in the reports of independent human rights
experts such as special procedures and human rights treaty bodies.) From
the second cycle onwards, the review will focus on the implementation of the
recommendations from the previous cycles. Representatives of organizations
accredited to the Human Rights Council can also attend the relevant session
of the Working Group and lobby States to include issues of importance to
them in the recommendations to the State under consideration. However,
non-governmental organizations cannot take the floor during these sessions.

More information about the universal periodic review, including technical

guidelines for stakeholders’ submissions, is available from www.ohchr.org/
EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/UPRMain.aspx (accessed 4 June 2013).

Human Rights Council complaint mechanism

The Human Rights Council has its own confidential complaint mechanism to
address “consistent patterns of gross and reliably attested violations of hu-
man rights and fundamental freedoms”.

More information about this complaint mechanism is available from www.

ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/ComplaintProcedure/Pages/HRC
ComplaintProcedureIndex.aspx (accessed 4 June 2013).

2.  Human Rights treaty bodies

State reporting
States that have ratified a human rights treaty are under an obligation to
report to its treaty body how it is implementing the rights set out in the treaty.
The treaty body reviews these State reports and makes observations, and,
if appropriate, raises human rights concerns and suggests action to remedy
them.

Non-State actors such as indigenous individuals can participate in the report-

ing process and raise human rights concerns in a number of ways, including
by providing so-called alternative reports to the treaty bodies or committees
outlining their concerns.

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’s early warning

and urgent action procedure
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has an early warn-
ing and urgent action procedure, designed to enable it to respond quickly to

24
situations requiring urgent attention. It can be invoked by non-State actors by
communicating directly with the Committee about the situation, highlighting
why it requires expedited attention from the Committee and why the situa-
tion allegedly violates the Convention. The Committee has responded to a
number of situations facing indigenous peoples.

Information, including guidelines, about its early warning and urgent ac-
tion procedure is available from http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/
cerd/early-warning.htm (accessed 4 June 2013).

Communications to treaty bodies

Whether an individual can bring a communication to a treaty body will de-
pend on whether the State in question has consented to the communication
procedure in relation to that treaty body.20 For example, the State in question
must have ratified the first Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights before an individual can raise allegations of viola-
tions of the rights contained in the Covenant.

3.  Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples

The Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples can receive com-
munications on allegations of specific human rights concerns. Raising such al-
legations with the Special Rapporteur has special advantages. For instance,
he or she can respond quickly, if the situation warrants a response and he
or she has the requisite capacity, and there is no need for the complainant
to exhaust domestic avenues for redress first. The communications sent by
the Special Rapporteur are, in general, of two types: urgent appeals, in the
event of imminent danger of violation; and allegation letters, in situations in
which the violation has already occurred or the situation is less urgent. The
Special Rapporteur’s response is most commonly to initiate a dialogue about
the issue with the Government concerned (A/HRC/18/35/Add.1).

4.  Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples can consider,

and usually calls for, submissions from indigenous peoples in relation to the
specific study it is undertaking. The annual session of the Expert Mechanism
in Geneva each year, which is open to indigenous individuals and their
organizations, and to non-governmental bodies, provides an opportunity for
them to participate in discussions on indigenous peoples’ issues.

 For more information, see OHCHR Fact Sheet No. 7, Individual Complaint Procedures
20

under the United Nations Human Rights Treaties.

25
5.  Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Although its mandate goes beyond human rights, the Permanent Forum con-
siders issues involving human rights and has an interactive dialogue devoted
to human rights during its annual sessions, in which the Special Rapporteur
and the Expert Mechanism both actively participate. Since the adoption of
the Declaration, the interactive dialogue has provided an opportunity to con-
sider progress towards its implementation. Importantly, the Permanent Forum
can provide advice to the United Nations more generally, including all its
agencies, on how best to advance the implementation of indigenous peo-
ples’ rights. It has also undertaken visits to assess the situation of indigenous
peoples in specific countries.

Indigenous peoples can contribute to the Permanent Forum in a number

of ways, especially through oral and written interventions during its annual
session, usually held in May each year in New York, and directly to the
members of the Permanent Forum themselves.

6.  ILO monitoring mechanisms

ILO monitors State compliance with ILO conventions in a number of ways.

Firstly, its Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Rec-
ommendations reviews States’ reports in relation to ILO conventions, includ-
ing ILO Conventions Nos. 107 and 169. This Committee of Experts can
either send a direct request to a State or make observations regarding a
specific situation. The tripartite Conference Committee on the Application of
Standards discusses the report of the Committee of Experts and a number of
country-specific cases, for which the States concerned are asked to appear
for questions. The report of the Conference Committee is then discussed
and adopted by the International Labour Conference. Secondly, the ILO
Governing Body can receive petitions (called representations) from employ-
ers’ or workers’ organizations. These can be sent to either the Committee on
Freedom of Association or a Governing Body tripartite committee that can
seek information from the Government concerned and draw up a report with
recommendations to be followed up by the Committee of Experts or by a
commission of inquiry. Thirdly, a member State, a delegate to the Interna-
tional Labour Conference or the Governing Body can file complaints against
a State for non-compliance with a convention it has ratified.

26
III. OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH
COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

A.  United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

The High Commissioner for Human Rights is the United Nations principal
human rights officer. His or her mandate includes empowering individuals
and assisting States to uphold human rights. The High Commissioner is sup-
ported by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights (OHCHR).

B. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for

Human Rights
OHCHR is also part of the United Nations Secretariat, established under
the Charter of the United Nations. In its secretariat role, it assists the Human
Rights Council and associated bodies and mechanisms, including the Expert
Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Special Rapporteur
on the rights of indigenous peoples.

1.  OHCHR Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section

The OHCHR Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section, located in the Rule
of Law, Equality and Non-discrimination Branch of the Research and Right to
Development Division, provides particular expertise on indigenous peoples’
rights. It supports the High Commissioner and OHCHR as a whole in relation
to its broader activities that relate to indigenous peoples. It is also the secre-
tariat of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Support
to the Special Rapporteur is provided by the OHCHR Special Procedures
Branch.

The Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section seeks to empower indig-

enous peoples in the protection and promotion of their rights. It coordinates
a fellowship for indigenous individuals and supports the Voluntary Fund for
Indigenous Populations, both of which are outlined below.

Moreover, the Section provides legal and policy advice in relation to the
rights of indigenous peoples, including to States seeking to enact laws to
implement such rights and to national human rights institutions. OHCHR,
including the Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section, has established
close relationships with national human rights institutions around the world to
promote the implementation of the rights of indigenous peoples, including as
a result of consultations in different regions.

27
 OHCHR and national human rights institutions

OHCHR has been working with national human rights institutions from
around the world on guidelines for such institutions on the implementation
of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
For more information, see www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/Pages/
Seminars.aspx (accessed 4 June 2013).

Handbook for Parliamentarians on

the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

In November 2010, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in cooperation

with OHCHR and the Government of Mexico organized an international
conference entitled “Promoting inclusive parliaments: The representation
of minorities and indigenous peoples in parliament”. Afterwards, OHCHR
along with the secretariat of the Permanent Forum, IPU, the United Na-
tions Development Fund (UNDP) and the International Fund for Agricultural
Development (IFAD) decided to collaborate to produce a handbook for
parliamentarians on the Indigenous Declaration. The Handbook seeks to
raise awareness of indigenous peoples’ rights among parliamentarians
and to underscore the important role parliamentarians have to play in
implementing the Declaration. It seeks to promote the participation of
indigenous peoples in parliamentary processes, including law - making,
budget and oversight decisions.

The Handbook also aspires to build a platform for dialogue, discussion

and participation among parliamentarians in the lead-up to the World
Conference on Indigenous Peoples in 2014.

More information on the Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section, includ-

ing its newsletter, can be found here: www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/
Pages/IndigenousPeoplesIndex.aspx.

The High Commissioner presents an annual report on the rights of indigenous

peoples to the Human Rights Council to outline the recent developments re-
lated to indigenous peoples within OHCHR and under human rights bodies
and mechanisms.

28
2.  Indigenous peoples and OHCHR in the field

Various regional and country offices of OHCHR promote and protect in-
digenous peoples’ rights, in line with the United Nations Declaration and
guided by the United Nations Development Group’s Guidelines on Indig-
enous Peoples’ Issues (2009). Examples include work in Guatemala on joint
strategies with indigenous peoples to protect access to their territories and
resources and on a training programme for strategic human rights litigation
for indigenous peoples’ rights. OHCHR has made significant contributions
to the development of national and local laws to promote the rights of indig-
enous peoples in a number of regions.21

3.  Studies and seminars

The United Nations human rights system has commissioned and conducted
a number of seminars and studies on human rights issues facing indigenous
peoples, oftentimes associated with relevant studies by mandated experts.
Such studies and seminars are usually facilitated by OHCHR. Some exam-
ples are the expert seminar on indigenous peoples’ permanent sovereignty
over natural resources and their relationship to land, and expert seminars on
treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements with States.

More information on OHCHR-organized or sponsored seminars and work-

shops on indigenous peoples’ human rights issues is available from www.
ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/Pages/Seminars.aspx (accessed 4 June
2013).

4.  Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations

Established in 1985, the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations helped

to finance the participation of representatives of indigenous communities
and organizations in the deliberations of the Working Group on Indigenous
Populations and then the Working Group on the Draft Declaration, with
voluntary contributions it received from governments, non-governmental or-
ganizations and other private or public entities. It expanded in 2001 to
facilitate indigenous peoples’ attendance at the Permanent Forum on Indig-
enous Issues, in 2008 to facilitate attendance at the Expert Mechanism on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and again in 2010 and 2012 to cover
their participation in the Human Rights Council, the human rights treaty bod-
ies and the 2014 World Conference on Indigenous Peoples.

 See “Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the rights of
21

indigenous peoples” (A/HRC/21/23).

29
Information about the Voluntary Fund and how to apply is available from
www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/IPeoplesFund/Pages/IPeoples
FundIndex.aspx (accessed 4 June 2013).

5.  Indigenous Fellowship Programme

The Indigenous Fellowship Programme was established in 1997 in the con-

text of the first Decade of the World’s Indigenous People. It provides indig-
enous fellows with knowledge of the United Nations standards and mecha-
nisms dealing with human rights in general and indigenous peoples’ issues
in particular, with the ultimate objective of assisting indigenous peoples to
protect and promote their rights. The Programme consists of up to 5 weeks
of training in Geneva, and is conducted in English, French, Spanish and
Russian. The Spanish and Russian programmes also include preparatory
training organized with university partners.

More than 100 indigenous men and women from 46 countries have taken
part in the Fellowship Programme and they, in turn, have provided human
rights training to many more in their communities.

A senior indigenous fellowship was launched in 2011 and provides first-

hand experience of working within the OHCHR Indigenous Peoples and
Minorities Section.

More information about the Fellowship Programme is available from www.

ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/Pages/Fellowship.aspx (accessed 4 June
2013).

C. Cooperation at the United Nations on indigenous

peoples’ issues
The Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues is the United
Nations coordinating body on indigenous peoples’ issues. It meets annu-
ally to coordinate related activities among United Nations entities, including
OHCHR, in consultation with the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
especially. In addition, the Permanent Forum considers annual reports from
United Nations agencies on their engagement in indigenous peoples’ issues
and makes recommendations to them in relation to their work on indigenous
issues.

The annual reports of the United Nations agencies to the Permanent Forum
provide up-to-date information on their activities in relation to indigenous
peoples. They are available from the Permanent Forum’s website: http://
social.un.org/index/IndigenousPeoples.aspx (accessed 4 June 2013).

30
1.  United Nations Indigenous Peoples’ Partnership

The United Nations launched the Partnership in 2011, after it was initially
established by the International Labour Organization, OHCHR and UNDP
in 2010. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Na-
tions Population Fund (UNFPA) joined the Partnership in 2011. Established
to promote and protect the rights of indigenous peoples, to strengthen their
institutions and ability to participate in governance and policy processes,
the Partnership functions through a multi-partner trust fund to primarily support
United Nations programmes at the country level in partnership with indig-
enous peoples. It also supports regional and global initiatives. Its thematic
priorities are: legislative review and reform; access to justice and strengthen-
ing of indigenous customary law and justice systems; access to land and
ancestral territories; the impact of extractive industries on indigenous peo-
ples; the right to education and health, and the rights of indigenous women,
children and youth.

For more information on the Partnership, see http://www2.ohchr.org/

english/issues/indigenous/index.htm (accessed 4 June 2013).

2.  Decades of the World’s Indigenous People

In 1993 the General Assembly proclaimed 1994–2003 the first Decade

of the World’s Indigenous People, following the International Year of the
World’s Indigenous People of 1993. The Second International Decade of
the World’s Indigenous People was proclaimed in 2005. Its primary goal
is to further strengthen international cooperation for the solution of problems
faced by indigenous people in such areas as culture, education, health,
human rights, the environment and social and economic development, by
means of action-oriented programmes and specific projects, increased tech-
nical assistance and relevant standard-setting activities.

The Secretary-General, in his Programme of Action for the Second Decade

(A/60/270), also set out several objectives, for example, the “inclusion of
indigenous peoples in the design, implementation and evaluation of interna-
tional, regional and national processes regarding laws, policies, resources,
programmes and projects” and “promoting full and effective participation
of indigenous peoples in decisions which directly or indirectly affect their
lifestyles, traditional lands and territories, their cultural integrity as indigenous
peoples with collective rights or any other aspect of their lives, considering
the principle of free, prior and informed consent”.

A trust fund was established for projects promoting the objectives of the De-
cade. It is managed by the Permanent Forum. The trust fund provides small

31
grants to indigenous organizations to contribute to their work. It receives vol-
untary contributions from donors and Member States. Details about the trust
fund are available from http://social.un.org/index/IndigenousPeoples.
aspx (accessed 4 June 2013).

3. International Day of the World’s Indigenous People:

9 August

In 1994, the General Assembly proclaimed 9 August International Day of

the World’s Indigenous People. The date marks the first day of the first meet-
ing of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982.

It is celebrated each year and is usually accompanied by high-level com-

memorations and activities, including within OHCHR, at United Nations
headquarters in New York, organized by the Permanent Forum, and by
United Nations agencies. Increasingly, 9 August is commemorated in dif-
ferent countries, and helps to draw attention to and raise awareness of the
situation of indigenous peoples around the world.

4.  World Conference on Indigenous Peoples in 2014

In 2010, the General Assembly decided that it would hold a high-level

plenary meeting, to be known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peo-
ples, in 2014, at the end of the Second International Decade of the World’s
Indigenous People, to share perspectives and best practices on the realiza-
tion of the rights of indigenous peoples, including to pursue the objectives of
the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

32
IV.  REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEMS
The African, inter-American and European human rights systems are impor-
tant for the promotion and protection of human rights at the international
level. Given the attention they have devoted to indigenous peoples’ rights,
the African and Inter-American systems are profiled here. There are also new
regional initiatives, such as the Intergovernmental Commission on Human
Rights of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which held
its first meeting on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration in January 2012.

A.  African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights reviews State re-
ports, undertakes missions in response to allegations of massive and serious
human rights violations, and also receives communications in relation to alle-
gations of violations of human and peoples’ rights, provided local remedies
have been exhausted first. It was established by the African Charter on
Human and Peoples’ Rights to promote and protect human and peoples’
rights in Africa and to interpret the Charter. As mentioned earlier, it has de-
veloped groundbreaking jurisprudence on the rights of indigenous peoples,
especially in relation to their cultural rights and their rights to lands, territories
and resources.

For information on how to submit a communication to the African Commission

on Human and Peoples’ Rights, see www.achpr.org/communications/
guidelines/ (accessed 4 June 2013).

Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa

In 2000, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights estab-
lished the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in
Africa. Its activities include country visits to review indigenous peoples’
issues, the publication of jurisprudence on indigenous peoples’ rights in
Africa and awareness-raising.

More information on the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Com-

munities in Africa is available from www.achpr.org/mechanisms/
indigenous-populations/ (accessed 4 June 2013).

33
B.  Organization of American States

1. Draft American declaration on the rights of indigenous

peoples

The Organization of American States (OAS) is currently drafting an inter-

American declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples.

Information about the draft inter-American declaration is available from www.

oas.org/en/topics/indigenous_peoples.asp (accessed 4 June 2013).

2.  Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has decided on a number

of petitions alleging violations of the human rights of indigenous individu-
als and peoples under the American Declaration on Human Rights and the
American Convention on Human Rights. (The Convention applies only to
States that have ratified it; the Declaration is applicable to all OAS member
States.) In these decisions the Inter-American Commission has upheld, for
example, indigenous peoples’ rights to their lands, territories and resources.

More information about the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

is available from www.oas.org/en/iachr/mandate/what.asp (accessed
4 June 2013).

3.  Inter-American Court of Human Rights

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights is the judicial organ of the OAS
human rights system. It can hear petitions about alleged State violations of the
American Convention on Human Rights if the State has accepted the Court’s
jurisdiction by ratifying the American Convention. The Court has decided a
number of significant cases elaborating on the rights of indigenous peoples,
including that indigenous peoples’ rights to property extend to States’ duties
to protect their traditional land tenure.22

Case law from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights is available from
www.corteidh.or.cr/index.php/jurisprudencia (accessed 4 June 2013).

For a summary of relevant jurisprudence from the inter-American system, see

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, “Indigenous and tribal peo-
ples’ rights over their ancestral lands and natural resources: Norms and
jurisprudence of the Inter-American human rights system” (OEA/Ser.L/V/II.,
Doc. 56/09).

  Case of the Mayagna (Sumo) Awas Tingni Community v. Nicaragua.

22

34
C.  Council of Europe and European Court of Human Rights
While the Council of Europe has no specific standards or mechanisms de-
voted to indigenous peoples, the Convention for the Protection of Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms contains relevant legally binding human
rights standards, including on non-discrimination and the right to respect for
private and family life, and the European Court of Human Rights has devel-
oped some jurisprudence concerning indigenous peoples. Furthermore, the
monitoring bodies of the Framework Convention for the Protection of Nation-
al Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
have addressed human rights concerns of indigenous peoples during their
country visits and in their findings.

35
V. OTHER UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES AND
INTERNATIONAL BODIES WORKING ON
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ ISSUES
Below is a non-exhaustive sample of the United Nations agencies’ work on
indigenous peoples with details about where to find more information in
relation to those activities.

Up-to-date information about the work of United Nations agencies is also

included in their reports to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and
is available from http://social.un.org/index/IndigenousPeoples.aspx (ac-
cessed 4 June 2013).

Convention on Biological Diversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity requires its contracting parties, as far
as possible and as appropriate, and subject to national legislation, to

respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices

of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles
relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity
and promote their wider application with the approval and involvement
of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices and en-
courage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization
of such knowledge, innovations and practices (art. 8 (j)).

Its governing body, the Conference of the Parties, established the Working
Group on Article 8 (j), in relation to indigenous and local communities’ tradi-
tional knowledge. More information about this Working Group is available
from www.cbd.int/traditional/.

In 2010 the Conference of the Parties adopted the Nagoya Protocol on

Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits
Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity. A fact
sheet on the Nagoya Protocol is available from www.cbd.int/abs/doc/
protocol/factsheets/all-factsheets-en.pdf (accessed 4 June 2013).

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) adopt-
ed its Policy on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in 2010, based on the United
Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It works in a num-
ber of areas that are important to indigenous peoples, such as food security,
land rights, natural resources and biodiversity.

36
More information about FAO policies and activities in relation to indigenous
peoples is available from its website (www.fao.org).

International Fund for Agricultural Development

IFAD sponsors many activities for indigenous peoples, with more than 22 per
cent of its annual lending having been devoted to supporting initiatives for in-
digenous peoples since 2003. It also administers the Indigenous Peoples As-
sistance Facility, which provides small grants for indigenous peoples’ micro
projects that strengthen their culture, identity, knowledge, natural resources,
and intellectual-property and human rights.

More information about its activities in support of indigenous peoples is

available from www.ifad.org/english/indigenous/index.htm.

International Labour Organization

In addition to monitoring ILO Conventions Nos. 107 and 169, ILO is en-
gaged in specific activities for the promotion and protection of indigenous
peoples’ rights and interests, for example, under the auspices of its PRO
169 initiative, which promotes indigenous peoples’ rights and development
regionally and nationally.

More information on ILO activities related to indigenous peoples is available

from www.ilo.org/indigenous/lang--en/index.htm.

United Nations Development Programme

As the United Nations lead agency for development, UNDP has a number
of programmes and initiatives focused on indigenous peoples and operates
under a policy of engagement with them.

More information on UNDP activities related to indigenous peoples, as well as

its policy of engagement, is available from www.undp.org/content/undp/
en/home/ourwork/partners/civil_society_organizations/empowering_
indigenous_peoples/ (accessed 4 June 2013).

United Nations Environment Programme

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the principal United
Nations environmental body and helps governments to address global,
regional and national environmental challenges.

Information about UNEP activities in relation to indigenous peoples is

available from www.unep.org/civil-society/MajorGroups/Indigenous

37
PeoplesandtheirCommunities/tabid/52201/Default.aspx (accessed 4 June
2013).

As in 1992 during the United Nations Conference on Environment and

Development, which produced the Rio Declaration on Environment and De-
velopment and Agenda 21—the United Nations action plan on sustain-
able development—indigenous peoples’ issues were a significant subject of
discussion at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
(“Rio+20”) in 2012.

For more information, see http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.

php?menu=165 (accessed 4 June 2013).

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) is engaged in thematic work in areas of considerable impor-
tance to indigenous peoples, such as tangible and intangible property;
endangered languages; cultural and linguistic diversity in education; local
and indigenous knowledge systems and cultural mapping.

More information about the work of UNESCO in relation to indigenous peo-

ples is available from http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_
ID=35393&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html (accessed
4 June 2013).

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and

associated instruments
Indigenous peoples have a vital interest in the development of international
climate change policy and associated legal instruments, not least because
they may be especially affected by climate change.23 Indigenous peoples
have sought to influence negotiations on international agreements related to
climate change and, in particular, also in relation to policy and international
law to reduce the impact of deforestation and environmental degradation.

More information is available from http://unfccc.int.

 “Study on the extent to which climate change policies and projects adhere to the stan-
23

dards set forth in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”
(E/C.19/2010/7).

38
United Nations Human Settlement Programme
The United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) focuses on
human settlements and shelter for all. It has frequently focused on indigenous
peoples’ specific issues, such as urban indigenous peoples and migration.

More information is available from the UN-Habitat website (www.unhabitat.

org).

United Nations Institute for Training and Research

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) runs an an-
nual training programme to enhance the conflict prevention and peacemak-
ing capacities of indigenous peoples' representatives.

More information is available from www.unitar.org/pmcp/training-for-

indigenous-representatives (accessed 4 June 2013).

United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of

Women
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of
Women (UN-Women) provides support to indigenous women in a number of
ways, including by promoting their participation in decision-making.

More information about the work of UN-Women is available from its website
(www.unwomen.org).

United Nations Population Fund

UNFPA has devoted considerable attention to indigenous peoples’ sexual
and reproductive health, population and development, and gender.

For more information, see its 15-page brochure UNFPA Work on Indige-
nous Issues. Available from www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/
pid/7943 (accessed 4 June 2013).

United Nations Children’s Fund

UNICEF has described its agenda in relation to indigenous peoples’ rights
as including the design of a strategy that reinforces a human rights-based
approach to development in favour of the rights of indigenous peoples
(E/C.19/2011/7). It has also been instrumental in the design of general
recommendation No. 11 (2009) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
on indigenous children, mentioned above.

39
More information about UNICEF work is available from its website (www.
unicef.org).

World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been involved in promoting
indigenous peoples’ health globally and at the country and community level.
In addition, its governing body, the World Health Assembly, has passed a
number of resolutions in support of health initiatives for indigenous peoples.24

More information about the work of WHO in relation to indigenous peoples

is available from www.who.int/hhr/activities/indigenous/en/ (accessed
4 June 2013).

World Intellectual Property Organization

The Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Re-
sources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore of the World Intellectual Prop-
erty Organization (WIPO) is finalizing an international draft policy and prin-
ciples for the effective protection of traditional knowledge and traditional
cultural expressions/expressions of folklore and to address the intellectual
property aspects of access to and benefit-sharing in genetic resources. Indig-
enous peoples’ representatives have participated in the negotiations.

More information about WIPO activities in relation to traditional knowledge,

traditional cultural expressions and genetic resources is available from www.
wipo.int/tk/en/.

A number of WIPO initiatives are relevant to the protection of indigenous

peoples’ folklore, including the Model Provisions for National Laws on the
Protection of Expressions of Folklore against Illicit Exploitation and Other
Prejudicial Actions (1982), issued jointly with UNESCO and available from
www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text.jsp?file_id=184668 (accessed 4 June
2013).

World Bank
The World Bank’s operational policy and bank procedure on indigenous
peoples 4.10 (OP/BP 4.10) sets out a procedure for assessing the effects
of a project on indigenous peoples and preparing plans where necessary in
relation to projects affecting indigenous peoples.

 See, for example, its resolution 54.16 of 22 May 2001 on the International Decade of
24

the World’s Indigenous People.

40
More information about the World Bank and indigenous peoples is avail-
able from its website (www.worldbank.org).

The International Finance Corporation is the private sector lending branch of

the World Bank Group. It has recently revised its “Performance Standard 7”
in relation to indigenous peoples. Consequently, companies to which it lends
are required to obtain the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous
peoples in some circumstances.

Further reading
Further information about indigenous peoples, their rights and the United
Nations human rights system can be found here:

• OHCHR, Working with the United Nations Human Rights Programme:

A Handbook for Civil Society (2008). Available from www.ohchr.
org/EN/AboutUs/CivilSociety/Pages/Handbook.aspx (accessed
4 June 2013)
• Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples, library of relevant United
Nations materials: http://social.un.org/index/IndigenousPeoples/
LibraryDocuments.aspx (accessed 4 June 2013)
• United Nations Development Group, Guidelines on Indigenous Peo-
ples’ Issues (2009). Available from www.ohchr.org/Documents/
Publications/UNDG_training_16EN.pdf (accessed 4 June 2013)

41
Human Rights Fact Sheets*25
No. 35 The Right to Water
No. 34 The Right to Adequate Food
No. 33 Frequently Asked Questions on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights
No. 32 Human Rights, Terrorism and Counter-terrorism
No. 31 The Right to Health
No. 30 The United Nations Human Rights Treaty System (Rev.1)
No. 29 Human Rights Defenders: Protecting the Right to Defend Human
Rights
No. 28 The Impact of Mercenary Activities on the Right of Peoples to
Self-determination
No. 27 Seventeen Frequently Asked Questions about United Nations
Special Rapporteurs
No. 26 The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
No. 25 Forced Evictions and Human Rights
No. 24 The International Convention on Migrant Workers and its
Committee (Rev.1)
No. 23 Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women
and Children
No. 22 Discrimination against Women: The Convention and the
Committee
No. 21 The Right to Adequate Housing (Rev.1)
No. 20 Human Rights and Refugees
No. 19 National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human
Rights
No. 18 Minority Rights (Rev.1)
No. 17 The Committee against Torture
No. 16 The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Rev.1)
No. 15 Civil and Political Rights: The Human Rights Committee (Rev.1)
No. 14 Contemporary Forms of Slavery
No. 13 International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights
No. 12 The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
No. 11 Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions (Rev.1)

 Fact sheets Nos. 1, 5 and 8 are no longer issued. All fact sheets are available online from
*

www.ohchr.org.

42
No. 10 The Rights of the Child (Rev.1)
No. 9 Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Human Rights
System (Rev.2)
No. 7 Individual Complaint Procedures under the United Nations
Human Rights Treaties (Rev.2)
No. 6 Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (Rev.3)
No. 4 Combating Torture (Rev.1)
No. 3 Advisory Services and Technical Cooperation in the Field of
Human Rights (Rev.1)
No. 2 The International Bill of Human Rights (Rev.1)

43
The Human Rights Fact Sheet series is published by the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Office at Ge-
neva. It deals with selected questions of human rights that are under active
consideration or are of particular interest.
Human Rights Fact Sheets are intended to assist an ever-wider audience in
better understanding basic human rights, what the United Nations is doing
to promote and protect them, and the international machinery available to
help realize those rights. Human Rights Fact Sheets are free of charge and
distributed worldwide.
Enquiries should be addressed to:

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

United Nations Office at Geneva
8–14, Avenue de la Paix
CH–1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland

New York Office:

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations
New York, NY 10017
United States of America

Printed at United Nations, Geneva  ISSN 1014-5567

GE.13-15651–August 2013–4,285

44
Indigenous Peoples and
the United Nations
Human Rights
System

Fact Sheet No.

9 Rev.2