Indigenous Peoples’ rights around the world

As part of the activities to mark the tenth anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), FAO is releasing a new database of country factsheets highlighting the recognition of indigenous peoples’ rights in various countries around the world.

Indigenous peoples are key partners in FAO’s goal of eradicating hunger and poverty. Their way of life and their livelihoods can teach us a lot about mitigating climate change, preserving natural resources and growing food in naturally sustainable ways. Despite the role their traditional knowledge and food systems play in providing solutions to climate change, biodiversity conservation and nutrition, their livelihoods continue to be threatened. The displacement and pressure indigenous communities experience across the world is often due to the lack of recognition and respect of their rights.

The recognition of indigenous peoples’ rights around the world is uneven and sometimes directly linked to the unavailability of data. The situation ranges from countries that recognize indigenous peoples in their constitutions to others denying their very existence. Some countries have issued legislation specifically protecting their rights to natural resources.

Building on FAO’s previous work on the Right to Food, these country factsheets provide official data such as the number of indigenous peoples in the country, the main international legal frameworks signed by that country and the relevant national legal frameworks in place. 

The data also includes how the country has incorporated the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) into their legislation. This useful information facilitates the work of FAO and its partners to   comply with FPIC for those projects implemented where indigenous peoples live.

This new database currently contains information about 11 countries, but it will continue to be populated in the coming months.

For more information, about FAO’s work with indigenous peoples, you can visit this site or contact the team at: [email protected].

Access these country-based fact sheets here.