Indigenous peoples

The term indigenous peoples has no universal, standard or fixed definition. Several widely-accepted formulations have been put forward by important internationally-recognised organizations, such as the United Nations, the International Labour Organization and the World Bank.

Representation

The rights, claims and even identity of indigenous peoples are apprehended, acknowledged and observed quite differently from government to government. Various organizations exist with charters to in one way or another promote (or at least acknowledge) indigenous aspirations, and indigenous societies have often banded together to form bodies which jointly seek to further their communal interests.

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United Nations

Indigenous peoples and their interests are represented in the United Nations primarily through the mechanisms of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations (WGIP). In April 2000 the UN Commission on Human Rights adopted a resolution to establish the *UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII) as an advisory body to the Economic and Security Council with a mandate to review indigenous issues.

Related Topics:
Working Group on Indigenous Populations - 2000 - UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII)

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In late December 2004, the United Nations' General Assembly proclaimed 2005-2014 to be the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People. The main goal of the new decade will be to strengthen international cooperation around resolving the problems faced by indigenous people in areas such as culture, education, health, human rights, the environment, and social and economic development.

Related Topics:
2004 - 2005 - 2014

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Other accredited organizations

Various organizations are devoted to the preservation or study of indigenous peoples. Of these, several have widely-recognized credentials to act as an intermediary or representative on behalf of indigenous peoples' groups, in negotiations on indigenous issues with governments and international organizations. These include:

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• International Working Group on Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)
• Indigenous Peoples of Africa Co-ordinating Committee (IPACC)
• Survival International
• Indigenous Dialogues