United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

This e-learning guide, published by Natural Justice, provides an overview of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). It explains the historical emergence of the Declaration, defines who is considered 'Indigenous' under international law, and details the specific rights and responsibilities of Indigenous communities, States, and the United Nations. The document serves as a toolkit for communities to identify relevant provisions for advocacy, self-governance, and the protection of lands, territories, and resources.

• The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13 September 2007. While not legally binding in the same manner as treaties, it reflects customary international law and establishes "the minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the Indigenous peoples of the world".
• The right to self-determination is a fundamental principle of the Declaration, encompassing the right of Indigenous peoples to choose their own political status, pursue their own development, and maintain autonomy or self-government through their own institutions.
• Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is a critical requirement for several actions affecting Indigenous peoples, including the forced removal from lands, the removal of cultural or spiritual property, the storage of hazardous materials on their territories, and the approval of projects for the exploitation of mineral or water resources.
• Indigenous peoples possess specific collective rights to lands, territories, and resources they have traditionally owned or occupied. This includes the right to maintain a spiritual relationship with these lands and the right to a remedy, such as compensation or return of land, if these resources were taken without FPIC.
• The Declaration outlines responsibilities for States, including the obligation to provide legal recognition and protection to traditionally owned lands and to establish fair, open, and transparent processes for recognizing land and resource rights.
• There is no single uniform definition of 'Indigenous peoples,' but common characteristics include a strong link to land and natural resources, a distinct language and culture, a non-dominant position in society, and self-identification as Indigenous or tribal.
• Indigenous peoples can seek redress for rights violations through several UN mechanisms, including the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Human Rights Council's complaints procedure, and various human rights treaty bodies such as the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
• The document highlights a tension between the Declaration and other international frameworks, noting that the Convention on Biological Diversity recognizes State sovereignty over natural resources, which can discount the role of Indigenous peoples as traditional owners.

APA

Natural Justice (n.d.). United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/UNDRIP.pdf

Chicago

Natural Justice. United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. n.d. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/UNDRIP.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Natural Justice |title=United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/UNDRIP.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{naturaljusticendunited, author = {{Natural Justice}}, title = {{United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/UNDRIP.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }