Indigenous peoples and transnational corporations and other business enterprises

This briefing note aims to show how Indigenous Peoples’ exclusion from political decision-making processes - locally, nationally, regionally and globally - places them in a position of extreme disadvantage vis-à-vis imposed industrial activities that affect their individual and communal lives, territories and resources. This is particularly evident in the case of the extractive sector. At the end of the briefing note you can find a list of recommendations to the UN working group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises.

Indigenous peoples inhabit lands rich in natural ressources and are at the same time among the poorest of the poor both because of their economical marginalisation but also because they are deprived basic social, cultural and political rights and fundamental freedoms, including rights to their lands, territories and resources. Consequently, they are strongly affected by the operations of national and transnational companies.