ESS8

ESS 8 Indigenous Peoples

ESS 8 recognizes that the traditions and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples provide opportunities to overcome many of the challenges that the world will face in the coming decades. Indigenous knowledge and food systems are of particular significance in the face of increasing food demand and adaptation to climate change. An agenda that pursues global food security, sustainable natural resources management and poverty alleviation is incomplete unless it addresses the needs of Indigenous Peoples.

Objectives

Recognize and foster full respect for Indigenous Peoples and their human rights, dignity, cultural uniqueness, autonomy, identity, and aspirations.
Avoid adverse impacts on Indigenous Peoples from activities supported and implemented by FAO and its partners, and minimize, mitigate and remedy adverse impacts where avoidance is not possible.
Ensure that FAO programmes and projects are designed in partnership with Indigenous Peoples, with their full, effective and meaningful consultation and participation, and with the objective of obtaining their FPIC before any project activities commence.
Ensure Indigenous Peoples obtain fair and equal benefits and opportunities from supported activities and from commercial development of their lands or resources in a culturally appropriate and inclusive manner, with due consideration given to gender equality.

Key definitions

According to the United Nations, the term ‘Indigenous Peoples’ refers to distinct collectives who answer to any of the more commonly accepted definitions. Regardless of the local, national and regional terms applied to them, self-identification as a distinct people is a fundamental criterion in the definition of Indigenous Peoples.