Agenda 21: Chapter 26
RECOGNIZING AND STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES
PROGRAMME AREA

Basis for action

26.1. Indigenous people and their communities have an historical relationship with their lands and are generally descendants of the original inhabitants of such lands. In the context of this chapter the term "lands" is understood to include the environment of the areas which the people concerned traditionally occupy. Indigenous people and their communities represent a significant percentage of the global population. They have developed over many generations a holistic traditional scientific knowledge of their lands, natural resources and environment. Indigenous people and their communities shall enjoy the full measure of human rights and fundamental freedoms without hindrance or discrimination. Their ability to participate fully in sustainable development practices on their lands has tended to be limited as a result of factors of an economic, social and historical nature. In view of the interrelationship between the natural environment and its sustainable development and the cultural, social, economic and physical well-being of indigenous people, national and international efforts to implement environmentally sound and sustainable development should recognize, accommodate, promote and strengthen the role of indigenous people and their communities.

26.2. Some of the goals inherent in the objectives and activities of this programme area are already contained in such international legal instruments as the ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (No. 169) and are being incorporated into the draft universal declaration on indigenous rights, being prepared by the United Nations working group on indigenous populations. The International Year for the World's Indigenous People (1993), proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 45/164 of 18 December 1990, presents a timely opportunity to mobilize further international technical and financial cooperation.
 

Continue reading Chapter 30 of Agenda 21.

Below are the official documents submitted by Indigenous People to the CSD over the years.

Below are statements made by the major groups at CSD meetings since the introduction of the new two-year cycle approach in 2004. All other statements can be accessed  in the past CSD sessions page. 

• Indigenous People's brief on Africa (CSD-16)
• Major groups case studies on energy for sustainable development, industrial development, air pollution/atmosphere, and climate change (CSD-14)
• Case Studies on the Role of Major Groups in Sustainable Oceans and Seas (CSD-7)
• Study on Role of Major Groups and changing consumption and Production Patterns (CSD-7)
• Case studies on education, awareness raising and major groups (CSD-6)
• Link to Sustainable Development Case Studies Database

Partnerships of farmers can be found on this website.

Ms. Vicky Tauli Corpuz
CSD Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus
Tebtebba - Indigenous Peoples' International Centre for Policy Research and Education
1 Roman Ayson Road, Baguio City, Philippines, 2600
Tel: +63-74-4447703; Fax:+ 63-74-4439459
E-mail: vicky@tebtebba.org -- vtcorpuz@yahoo.com

Ms. Jocelyn Carino Nettleton
Tebtebba - Indigenous Peoples' International Centre for Policy Research and Education
European Office
111 Faringdon Road, Stanford-in-the-Vale, Oxon SN7 8LD, UK
Tel: +4-1367-718889 (work/home); +4-207-326-0363 (work)
E-mail: tebtebba@gn.apc.org; tongtong@gn.apc.org; joji@tebtebba.org

Mr. Tom Goldtooth
Indigenous Environmental Network
P.O. Box 485, Bemidji, MN 56619-0485,USA
Tel: +1-218-751-4967; Fax: +1-218-751-0561
E-mail: ien@igc.org

 

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