New Forms of Power-Sharing are Needed to Uphold Rights of Indigenous Peoples

New Forms of Power-Sharing are Needed to Uphold Rights of Indigenous Peoples

A UN groundbreaking report published in 1982 laid the legal ground for defining the inalienable rights of Indigenous Peoples. The document, written by José Martínez Cobo, a United Nations Special Rapporteur, analyzed the complex discrimination patterns faced by Indigenous Peoples. If the international community is serious about protecting and safeguarding their rights, then it is …

Landmark Court Ruling Affirms The Right Of Isolated Indigenous People To Remain Undisturbed

Inter-American Court of Human Rights In a groundbreaking decision that sets a global precedent, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has ruled that indigenous communities living in “voluntary isolation” have an inherent right to remain so—free from external interference.  This is the first time an international judicial body has explicitly recognized this right, placing legal responsibility on governments to protect and preserve the autonomy…