Human Rights Activities
For more than two decades, one of IWGIA's main priorities has been to enhance respect for indigenous peoples' human rights and to ensure that indigenous peoples are involved in all decisions concerning their future and survival as distinct peoples.
International advocacy work
At international level, IWGIA focuses on the work of inter-governmental organisations, and particularly the United Nations human rights bodies. IWGIA’s main objectives with regard to its Human Rights and International Advocacy Work Program are:
- To enhance respect for indigenous peoples' human rights and to ensure that indigenous peoples are involved in all decisions that concern their own future.
- To support indigenous organizations' endeavours to open up political and legal spaces in the international rights arena and to be accepted as participants on a basis of equality.
To achieve these aims, IWGIA supports a considerable number of activities with the common goal of promoting indigenous participation in intergovernmental institutions and supporting indigenous initiatives to link international advocacy work with local, national and regional activities.
Financial support to indigenous peoples
Facilitation of meetings in the United Nations is a central activity for IWGIA. IWGIA plays an important role in ensuring indigenous participation in the different meetings and working groups within the UN system. This is done by financial support from the Human Rights Fund to cover travel expenses of participants.
The Human Rights Fund
IWGIA is one of five organizations, which since 1984, together have operated a fund, The Human Rights Fund for Indigenous Peoples (HRFIP). The purpose of the fund is to increase the participation of indigenous representatives at sessions in the UN. The fund finances travel and lodge expenses for the representatives of indigenous peoples, who upon application have qualified for financial support to sessions in the UN or other international fora.
Accreditation to the UN
Another important role of IWGIA is the facilitation of accreditation necessary for a great number of indigenous representatives by way of IWGIA's ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) Consultative Status. A status which is required in order to be able to participate in the UN meetings.
Publications
IWGIA has published a number of publications, which seeks to reflect the discussions on the rights of the indigenous peoples in the United Nations and other regional human rights systems.
In the yearbook, The Indigenous World, meetings held in the different working groups within the UN is reported on.
Furthermore, IWGIA has published the following publications on the UN system's mechanism for human rights and other systems such as the Inter-American Human Rights system:
The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, IWGIA 2003, is a handbook on the nature of the Permanent Forum for Indigenous Peoples and a guide for indigenous peoples on how to use this new body.
The Permanent Forum for Indigenous Peoples, IWGIA 1999, is a compiled documentation on the process of establishing The Permanent Forum for Indigenous Peoples in the UN.
Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples, IWGIA 1999, is a handbook on the UN system. The book is a guide for indigenous peoples to benefit from the UN human rights mechanisms.
A guide to Indigenous Peoples' Rights in the Inter-American Human Rights System, IWGIA 2002.
More information
You can read more about IWGIA's involvement in human rights work under International Processes |
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Maasai, Kenya
Photo: Diana Vinding
 Subanen, Philippines
Photo: Christian Erni
 Tangkhul Naga, India
Photo: Christian Erni
 Ayoreo, Bolivia
Photo: Pablo Lasansky |
