6. Indigenous Peoples

Abstract

In 2011, developments related to indigenous peoples and international environmental law took place in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and in fora on indigenous peoples’ rights, biodiversity, corporate accountability, and intellectual property. This review will discuss them in turn (for more information, see the report on the Convention on Biological Diversity in this volume). The UNGA addressed issues related to indigenous peoples in its resolutions on agriculture development, ecotourism, and the right to development. It also decided to organize a high-level plenary meeting of the UNGA, entitled the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples in 2014, which was designed to share perspectives and best practices on the realization of the rights of indigenous peoples, including pursuing the objectives of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Doc. A/RES/61/295, 13 September 2007 and United Nations, Resolution of the General Assembly, Doc. A/RES/65/198, 3 March 2011). In its consensus resolution on agriculture development and food security, the UNGA emphasized the role of indigenous peoples and local communities, and their knowledge and practices, in preserving, conserving, and sustainably using traditional crops and biodiversity for present and future generations as an important contribution to food security as well as the role of small-hold farmers for environmental protection. In addition, the UNGA urged states and international organizations to pursue complementary policies and strategies to strengthen farmer-based seed supply at the community level and called on investors to conduct agricultural practices in accordance with national legislation, taking into account national sovereignty over natural resources, environmental sustainability, and the importance of promoting the well-being, and improving the livelihoods, of local communities and indigenous peoples (Doc. A/RES/65/178).