Indigenous Peoples' Rights
How indigenous communities have fought for recognition in international law, from UNDRIP to ongoing struggles over land and self-determination.
The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), adopted by the General Assembly in 2007, was the product of more than 20 years of negotiation. It recognizes indigenous peoples' rights to self-determination, their lands and resources, their cultures and languages, and their right to maintain their own institutions. Critically, it establishes the principle of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC): states must consult indigenous peoples and obtain their consent before taking actions that affect their lands or resources.
The vote was 144 in favor with 4 against: the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, all former British settler colonies with large indigenous populations. All four have since reversed their position and endorsed the declaration, though endorsement of a non-binding declaration is very different from implementing its provisions in domestic law.
