STATE OF THE WORLD’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES:Implementing the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Fourth Volume
Introduction
To millions of people the world over, in cities as well as in the most remote communities, 13 September 2007 marked the beginning of an era of renewed hope. On this day the United Nations General Assembly officially adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.1 After more than 20 years of intense dialogue, discussions, negotiations, lobbying and advocacy, the Declaration was adopted by an overwhelming majority of Member States.
The Declaration clearly and unequivocally lays out the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples worldwide as distinct peoples. For indigenous peoples, this Declaration is the formal recognition of their existence, of their right to their own iden- tities, of their right to self-determination, of their cultures and their heritage, and of their rights as peoples, communities and collectivities. As acknowledged and endorsed by the global assembly of Member States, indigenous peoples are not just a group of individual citizens of certain ethnicities but are peoples with distinct identities, cultures and histories, as they have always been and continue to be.
The Declaration also constitutes the framework for new, renewed, reinforced and reor- iented partnerships between States (and other actors) and indigenous peoples. It pro- vides formal guidance, once absent, on how best to respond to the demands of indige- nous peoples on a range of issues that cut across diverse thematic areas including, inter alia, effective participation; free, prior and informed consent; traditional knowledge; access to genetic resources; decentralization; recognition of territorial rights; natu- ral resource management; and development with identity. It is the first international instrument that formally recognizes indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination.
The Declaration has been in place for more than a decade. Has it made a difference? What kind of impact has it had on the survival, dignity and well-being of indigenous peoples. How has it been used? What can be learned from the many ways in which it has been applied and from the obstacles encountered? What gaps and challenges still exist that may be preventing the full implementation of the Declaration? What is the way forward to realize the full potential and promise of the Declaration? These are the questions this publication seeks to explore.
This edition of the State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples constitutes a status report. It offers a perspective on how the Declaration has been utilized—as a formal United Nations document defining and elaborating aspirations, duties and obligations but also as a source of inspiration and a tool for advocacy and awareness. This report highlights trends and good practices in the application of the Declaration but also identifies gaps and challenges hindering full and effective implementation. Drawing on these trends and lessons, the publication also presents recommendations on the way forward in implementing the commitments of the Declaration in pursuit of the full realization of the rights of the millions of indigenous peoples all over the world.
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Related to SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
