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Indigenous World 2020: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) established on 8 August 1967 with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by its founding member states: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam and Myanmar later joined,

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Indigenous World 2020: European Union Engagement with Indigenous Issues

The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 Member States established in 1951. Its legislative and executive powers are divided between the EU’s three main institutions: the European Parliament (co-legislative authority - EP), the Council of the European Union

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Indigenous World 2020: Global Indigenous Youth Caucus

It is estimated that there are 370 million Indigenous persons in the world, approximately 45% of whom are between 15 and 30 years of age. This group of Indigenous Peoples face numerous challenges, including marginalisation, migration and premature maternity. Despite these problems, Indigenous

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Indigenous World 2020: Indigenous Data Sovereignty

Indigenous Peoples have always been ‘data warriors’. Our ancient traditions recorded and protected information and knowledge through art, carving, song, chants and other practises. Deliberate efforts to expunge these knowledge systems were part and parcel of colonisation, along with

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Indigenous World 2020: International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

The Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) constitutes a unique process within the UN system and is a concrete way for IFAD to institutionalise consultation and dialogue with representatives of Indigenous Peoples’ institutions.

The forum

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Indigenous World 2020: The Indigenous Navigator: Self-Determined Development

The Indigenous Navigator is an online portal providing access to a set of tools developed for and by Indigenous Peoples. Through the Indigenous Navigator framework, data is collected that can be used by Indigenous people to advocate for their rights and to systematically monitor the level of

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Indigenous World 2020: The Inter-American Human Rights System (IAHRC)

The Inter-American Human Rights System (IAHRS) comprises two human rights bodies: the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR or the Commission) and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IA Court). Both bodies work to promote and protect human rights in the Americas. The IACHR is

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Indigenous World 2020: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 to tackle the growing problem of global warming and the related harmful effects of a changing climate. The UNFCCC entered into force on 21 March 1994, and has

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Indigenous World 2020: UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (Permanent Forum) is an expert body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) with the mandate to provide advice on Indigenous issues to the Council and through ECOSOC, to the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes,

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Indigenous World 2020: UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

The Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples is one of the 56 “special procedures” of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The special procedures are independent human rights experts with mandates to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific

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Indigenous World 2020: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Indigenous Peoples have rights over their traditional knowledge (TK), traditional cultural expressions (TCEs) and genetic resources (GRs), including associated intellectual property rights, as recognized in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Article 31. However, Indigenous

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The Indigenous World 2020

The compilation is the unique result of a collaborative effort between Indigenous and non-indigenous activists and scholars who voluntarily document and report on the situation of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. We thank them and celebrate the bonds and sense of community that result from the close

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Greenlanders in Denmark voice their concerns to UN Special Rapporteur

On Tuesday night, before COVID-19 shut down most of Denmark, a dozen people gathered in Copenhagen to meet the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz. The meeting, organised by IWGIA and the Greenlandic House, created a space for Greenlanders in

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The Indigenous World 2019: Editorial

Juana Raymundo from Guatemala was only 25 years old when her life was cut short. Juana was an indigenous rights defender, a nurse and a coordinator at CODECA, a human rights organisation promoting the rights of indigenous farmers - in particular to their lands. She disappeared on the evening of

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Indigenous peoples raise concerns at UN Climate Meeting in Abu Dhabi

Despite being a small group of only eight people among the more than 1,000 participants at the UN Climate Meeting in Abu Dhabi in June, indigenous peoples were able to have their voices heard and put indigenous peoples’ rights on the agenda.

Outcome document from seminar on Indigenous autonomy and self-government

To create a room for indigenous peoples to discuss and analyse their experiences around autonomy and self-government, the international seminar "Right to Autonomy and Indigenous Self-Government as a manifestation of the Right to Self-Determination of Indigenous Peoples" was held on March 11, 12

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Indigenous World 2019: African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the ACHPR) was established in accordance with Article 30 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights with a mandate to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights on the continent. It was officially inaugurated on 2nd of

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Indigenous World 2019: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967 with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by its founding member states: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam and Myanmar later

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Indigenous World 2019: European Union Engagement with Indigenous Issues

The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 28 Member States established in 1951. Its legislative and executive powers are divided between the EU’s three main institutions: the European Parliament (co-legislative authority - EP), the Council of the European Union

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Indigenous World 2019: The Inter-American Human Rights System (IAHRC)

The Inter-American Human Rights System (IAHRS) is composed of two human rights bodies: The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR). Both bodies work to promote and protect human rights in the Americas. While the IACHR is made up of

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Indigenous World 2019: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 to tackle the growing problem of global warming and the related harmful effects of a changing climate. The UNFCCC entered into force on 21 March 1994, and has

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Indigenous World 2019: UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (Permanent Forum) is an expert body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) with the mandate to provide advice on indigenous issues to the Council and, through ECOSOC, to the UN agencies, funds and programmes, to raise

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Indigenous World 2019: UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

The Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is one of the 56 “special procedures” of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The special procedures are independent human rights experts with mandates to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific

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Indigenous World 2019: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Indigenous peoples have rights over their traditional knowledge (TK), traditional cultural expressions (TCEs), and genetic resources (GRs), including associated intellectual property rights, as recognized in the UNDRIP, Article 31. However, because of their unique characteristics, indigenous

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The Indigenous World 2019

Rising tensions between states and indigenous peoples are reaching a tipping point, and with an ever-shrinking civic space worldwide, the topics of criminalisation of Indigenous Rights Defenders’ activities and their organisations; land rights issues; and access to justice are more important

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Serious Deterioration of Human Rights and Indigenous Rights Conditions in Brazil

María Lourdes Alcántara, anthropologist and coordinator of the Guaraní Youth Support Group of Mato Grosso del Sur (GAPK / AJI) and Professor of medical anthropology in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of São Paulo, reflects on the main threats to indigenous communities in Brazil after

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Det grænseløse paradoks

I klimakampen er truede oprindelige folk vigtige for at beskytte os i industrilandene mod os selv

International Year of Indigenous Languages

At least 43 percent of the 7,000 languages spoken in the world today are endangered. Many of these belong to indigenous peoples and if something doesn't change soon, UNESCO predicts that we will lose as many as 3,000 indigenous languages by the end of this century. In an effort to raise public

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Indigenous rights defenders at risk

Recent reports by UN experts and human rights organisations document an alarming increase in violent attacks against and criminalisation of indigenous peoples defending their rights to their traditional lands and natural resources.

Videos produced with IWGIA's support

 

This page only features the latest videos about Indigenous issues that IWGIA or/and our partners have produced.

To get an overview of all our videos, please visit our Youtube channel

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Defending the Defenders: Recommendations from the conference

Recent reports by UN experts and human rights organizations document an alarming increase in violent attacks against and criminalisation of indigenous peoples defending their rights to their traditional lands and natural resources, particularly in the context of

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Outcome Document: Defending the defenders, Copenhagen, 5-6 September 2018

Human rights defenders are dying, attacked and criminalized all over the world. This is happening at an increasingly alarming rate. In 2017, over 400 people were killed while protecting their community’s land or natural resources. Approximately half of these were indigenous peoples. The

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Indigenous Peoples innovative process of establishing UNPFII and IWGIA's role in it

In May 2002, United Nations Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) held its first official meeting in New York. This was as a result of a groundbreaking process where indigenous peoples in nearly a decade pushed the boundaries for how United Nations functioned and overcame difficult

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50 år med at forsvare og promovere oprindelige folks rettigheder

2018 er året hvor International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) kan fejre 50 års jubilæum i vores forsvar af oprindelige folks rettigheder. På denne side kan du finde flere informationer af, hvad vi har opnået og hvilke trusler som oprindelige folk står overfor den dag i

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50 years defending indigenous peoples' rights

This year the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) celebrates 50 years of defending indigenous peoples' rights and we want to share with you some of the facts we are proud of and some of the issues that affect the world's 370 million indigenous peoples.

50 years defending indigenous peoples’ rights

On the occasion of IWGIA's 50 years jubilee, IWGIA's Executive Director, Julie Koch, looks at the past 50 years development for indigenous peoples' rights and points to the main issues and opportunities for indigenous peoples.

We stand in solidarity with indigenous peoples of Colombia

IWGIA fully supports the press release published by the Indigenous Peoples Major Group that strongly condemns the persistent and gross human rights violations committed in Colombia and express solidarity with the indigenous peoples in the country.

Facts about indigenous peoples

 The 9th of August is the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples and this page provides a brief overview of the most important international agreements related to indigenous peoples and some general facts about indigenous peoples.

The Indigenous World 2018: Editorial

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win”. This legendary quote accurately describes the stages that movements and social conflicts often go through and indigenous peoples’ struggle and resilience is no exception.

The Indigenous World 2018

The rising tensions between states and indigenous peoples are reaching a tipping point and The Indigenous World 2018 adds to the documented records, highlighting the increase in attacks and killings of indigenous peoples while defending their lands. The

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10 achievements worth celebrating in The Indigenous World

Some encouraging developments in The Indigenous World 2018 show that the indigenous movement has placed itself at the core of a paradigm shift, pushing for a more inclusive and sustainable development. Indigenous peoples, in partnership with civil society and other human rights defenders, have

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The Indigenous World 2017: Editorial

As the world gears up for the 10th anniversary of the UNDRIP, indigenous peoples’ right to fully participate in the decision-making processes that affect their lives and futures continues to be at the heart of their struggles worldwide. The events unfolding over the last few years

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The Indigenous World 2017

This yearbook gives a comprehensive update on the current situation of indigenous peoples and their human rights situation across the world, and offers an overview of the most significant developments in international and regional processes relating to indigenous peoples during

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In memory of Erica-Irene Daes

Dr. Erica-Irene Daes, an academic, diplomat, UN independent expert and strong human rights defender, was undoubtedly one of the main protagonists in the significant progress achieved over the last four decades in relation to recognising Indigenous Peoples as
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Denmark is still standing with indigenous peoples

You have to look a bit before you will find it. But on page 33 in the new Danish development strategy you will find indigenous peoples rights as a key priority in the human rights area. The new strategy has been adopted by all the parties in the Danish
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Indigenous Peoples, Communities of African Descent, Extractive Industries

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) addresses in this report State obligations with regard to extraction, exploitation, and development activities concerning natural resources. Through the implementation of its monitoring mechanisms, the Commission has consistently received

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The Indigenous World 2016

This yearbook gives a global update on the current situation of indigenous peoples and their human rights and provides an overview of the main developments that have affected indigenous women and men in the course of 2015. In 54 country specific reports and 12 articles on international

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The Indigenous World 2016: Editorial

Speaking on a panel organized during the 2015 UN Forum on Business and Human Rights and entitled “Utilizing the Guiding Principles in the context of extractive industries – benefits and challenges” the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz noted

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Special Rapporteurs discuss impact of free trade agreements in Peru

Successive UN Special Rapporteurs on the rights of indigenous peoples have expressed serious concerns in relation to the growing negative impacts of foreign investment on rights of indigenous peoples worldwide.

These investments often involve extraction of natural resources and large

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Guatemala: Mujeres indígenas articulan propuestas para Encuentro Continental

El Encuentro fue promovido por la Coordinadora Nacional de Viudas de Guatemala CONAVIGUA, la Asociación Mujer Tejedora  de Desarrollo AMUTED y la Coordinación Maya MAJAWIL Q´IJ -Un nuevo Amanecer- y servirá también para discutir y debatir propuestas previo al 7°
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The Indigenous World 2015: Editorial

The World Conference on Indigenous Peoples 

“Indigenous people will always have a home at the United Nations,” said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon when opening the UN High Plenary meeting on indigenous peoples.

The Indigenous World 2015

Seven years after the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, The Indigenous World 2015 looks at the most significant developments and setbacks for indigenous peoples’ rights at the national and international level during the previous year and at indigenous peoples’

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Russia: Denial of indigenous peoples' rights concerns UN Human Rights Committee

Land Rights Indicators in the Post-2015 SDGs: Recommendations for Inter-Agency Expert Group & Other Policymakers

The success of the Post-2015 sustainable development goals (SDGs) will depend on the adoption of indicators that allow measuring progress towards targets and provide helpful information to policymakers. In preparation for the March 3-6, 2015 discussions at the UN in New York, the UN Statistical

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México: Aplican sistema operativo que se adapta a las lenguas indígenas

Varias comunidades indígenas mexicanas están probando un nuevo sistema operativo basado en software libre (Linux) para adaptarlo a sus lenguas, culturas y necesidades. El 

Significant focus on extractive industries at IACHR meetings in Washington

In recent years, cases involving indigenous peoples have become a focal point of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights sessions’, and continued to take up a large proportion of the hearings this year. The

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Briefing Note: Ethnic Violence in Morogoro Region in Tanzania

In early 2015, Maasai and Datoga citizens living in the Morogoro region of Tanzania were victims of deadly, ethnic violence. According to reports from local media, the assaults were instigated by public figures interested in acquiring land, and state authorities have not intervened to protect

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Paraguay: UN Special Rapporteur makes official country visit

The new United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, will carry out an official visit to Paraguay from 21 to 28 November 2014 to study the situation of indigenous peoples in the country .

"I will explore, among others, the issues of land

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World Heritage Sites and Indigenous Peoples' Rights

This book includes 20 case studies of World Heritage sites from around the world and relevant background articles. The case studies explore and document, from a human rights perspective, indigenous peoples’ experiences with World Heritage sites and with the processes of the World Heritage

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Russia: Indigenous Peoples in the Russian Federation. IWGIA Report 18

This report examines the human rights situation of the 41 indigenous peoples living in the Northern and Asian territories of the Russian Federation. While their historical homelands account for two-thirds of the territory of contemporary Russia, these people number a little over 250,000

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Fact Sheet: Indigenous Peoples' Right to Land - The Threat of Land Grabbing

Land grabbing is the large-scale acquisition of land for commercial or industrial purposes, such as agricultural and biofuel production, mining and logging concessions or tourism. It involves land being purchased by investors rather than producers, often foreign investors. This is done with

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Constitutional Politics and Indigenous Peoples in Nepal

This report is the result of a monitoring visit to assess IWGIA’s support to promoting and defending indigenous peoples’ rights in the new constitution and beyond. Indigenous peoples in Nepal, known as adivasi janajati, have for centuries experienced systematic discrimination and

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Peru: Indigenous women address critical role in combatting climate change

More than 60 Indigenous Women from Across the World Come Together to Address their Critical Role in Combating Climate Change.

At an international forum on community land and resource rights which took place 15 and 16 July, women from across the world called for

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UNFCCC: The road towards COP 20 in Lima

During the recent UNFCCC Climate Change Conference in Bonn (June 4-15), the Peruvian government delegation expressed a clear commitment to facilitate indigenous peoples’ participation in the upcoming COP 20.

UNFCCC: Update from Bonn Climate Change Conference

From 4-15 June, the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) convened in Bonn, Germany. Indigenous representatives from around the world followed the negotiations and lobbied government delegations for greater inclusion, and respect for their rights and

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The Indigenous World 2014

The 2014 edition contains a comprehensive update on the current situation of indigenous peoples in 73 articles written by indigenous and non-indigenous scholars and activists.

The book provides 58 country reports and 15 articles on international processes, reflecting ongoing worldwide

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Uruguay: Government announces ratification of ILO 169 Convention

Uruguay will be the 16th country in Latin America to ratify the strongest international instrument on indigenous peoples’ rights, the ILO Convention 169, according to a recent announcement by the Uruguayan Ministry of Social Development.

The Indigenous World 2014: Editorial

The path towards the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples

It was a defining moment when, in the long afternoon spent waiting for the final draft outcome document to be presented, Chief Wilton Littlechild of the Cree Nation and Chair of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of

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Chile: Visita del Relator Especial sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas

El Relator Especial sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas, James Anaya, estuvo en Chile del 14 al 16 de abril de 2014 para brindar una conferencia sobre el deber estatal de consulta previa en un seminario organizado por la Universidad Diego Portales. Asimismo, realizó una exposición

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Violence, Customary Law and Indigenous Women’s Rights in Asia

The briefing paper analyses how gender relations in Asian indigenous societies have undergone and continue to undergo changes in response to external factors. Finally it draws conclusions and recommendations based on addressing problems through empowering indigenous women in traditional

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Indigenous Peoples and Corporate Accountability in the ASEAN

Due to the increasing and expanding operations of multinational corporations in indigenous peoples’ territories, the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) conducted this study on the business practices of these corporations in indigenous peoples’ territories. The study focuses on the operations

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About IWGIA

IWGIA - International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs - is a global human rights organisation dedicated to promoting and defending Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Read more.

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Indigenous World

IWGIA's global report, the Indigenous World, provides an update of the current situation for Indigenous Peoples worldwide. Read The Indigenous World.

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