Over 150 civil society organisations and academics sign open letter calling on world leaders to integrate human rights into global and national environmental policy and practice
In the lead-up to historic agreements on climate and nature being made in the next month, more than
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50 years since the Barbados Declaration
This year, 2021, marks the 50th anniversary of the historic meeting held on the Caribbean island of Barbados, where a group of 15 anthropologists (14 men and 1 woman) from Amazonian, Central American and European countries met to reflect on the
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BY PUINAMUDT FOR DEBATES INDÍGENAS
Oil exploitation in the region of Loreto has affected the environment, the roles of the ecosystems, health,
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BY CATALINA RIVADENEIRA CANEDO FOR DEBATES INDÍGENAS
While awaiting a referendum to approve their statute and initiate the new
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IWGIA and AIPP submission on the draft general comment on Land and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights -
Submitted to CESCR 11-08-2021
IWGIA and AIPP welcome the
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BY PAULINA ACEVEDO
Luis Jiménez Cáceres was elected as a Constitutional Assembly Member for the Aymara people. His Aymara roots come from the regions of Arica and Parinacota (Guallatire Community) and Tarapacá (Chiapa Community). A lawyer specializing in the human rights of
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This compilation is the unique result of a collaborative effort between Indigenous and non-indigenous activists and scholars who voluntarily document and report on the situation of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. We thank them and celebrate the bonds and sense of community that result from the
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This report addresses the resurgence of positions within anthropology that favour States taking the initiative in the establishment of direct and permanent relationships with those Indigenous Peoples, or parts of them, that live in voluntary isolation.
Francisco Cali Tzay was appointed the new UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples in May 2020. His arrival coincided with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and so he has been forced to use virtual platforms in order to monitor and support Indigenous demands on their
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A partir de memorias, experiencias propias y de una lectura reflexiva de los cambios experimentados por el Pueblo Awajún, Entre la dependencia y la libertad: siempre Awajún de Gil Inoach Shawit ofrece una mirada aguda de procesos de mediana duración que han ido
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El respeto a la autodeterminación y la protección de los pueblos indígenas en aislamiento, una mirada desde la ética en la antropología de Beatríz Huertas Castillo aborda el resurgimiento desde la antropología de planteamientos a favor de que los Estados tomen la iniciativa de
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¿Cómo entendemos nuestros derechos? es una publicación editada por Visión Amazonía y desarrollada a partir del Ciclo de charlas sobre derechos de los pueblos indígenas realizado durante agosto de 2020 con el objetivo de amplificar la voz indígena y sus derechos expresados desde sus propias
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En 2021 se cumplirán 50 años de la histórica reunión realizada en la isla caribeña de Barbados, en la que un grupo de catorce antropólogos y una antropóloga de países amazónicos, centroamericanos y europeos se reunieron para reflexionar sobre la situación de los
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El conocimiento local y las capacidades de las comunidades y familias Kichwa de Pastaza en la Amazonía central de Ecuador, al igual que los distintos pueblos y nacionalidades de este país, frecuentemente han sido soslayados, tanto en el discurso del desarrollo y de la planificación, como en los
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In Andean culture, time falls under cycles and is represented as a circle or wheel locked in perpetual motion. The conception of space, associated with agricultural and pastoral activities, is interpreted in similar terms. On November 11, the former president Evo Morales,
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Choquehuanca with Morales when he was Minister of External Affairs. Photo: Communidad Andina.
After a decade as Chancellor of Evo Morales, David Choquehuanca was the leader chosen by the Pacto de Unidad to represent Indigenous, native and
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Choquehuanca with Morales when he was Minister of External Affairs. Photo: Communidad Andina.
After a decade as Chancellor of Evo Morales, David Choquehuanca was the leader chosen by the Pacto de
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El libro recorre la historia de más de 40 años del Centro de Estudios Jurídicos e Investigación Social (CEJIS) y los pueblos indígenas de Bolivia. La lucha por la tierra y el territorio marcó el horizonte de CEJIS, que trabajó como una oficina de asesoramiento y patrocinio jurídico popular y
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This book forms an essential contribution to the process of legitimising the recognition and exercise of the world’s Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination in domestic and international law. It further offers a space for analysis, dialogue and debate aimed at coordinating visions and
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The compilation is the unique result of a collaborative effort between Indigenous and non-indigenous activists and scholars who voluntarily document and report on the situation of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. We thank them and celebrate the bonds and sense of community that result from the close
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On Tuesday night, before COVID-19 shut down most of Denmark, a dozen people gathered in Copenhagen to meet the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz. The meeting, organised by IWGIA and the Greenlandic House, created a space for Greenlanders in
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On Human Rights Day, the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights together with the
Despite being a small group of only eight people among the more than 1,000 participants at the UN Climate Meeting in Abu Dhabi in June, indigenous peoples were able to have their voices heard and put indigenous peoples’ rights on the agenda.
To create a room for indigenous peoples to discuss and analyse their experiences around autonomy and self-government, the international seminar "Right to Autonomy and Indigenous Self-Government as a manifestation of the Right to Self-Determination of Indigenous Peoples" was held on March 11, 12
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Rising tensions between states and indigenous peoples are reaching a tipping point, and with an ever-shrinking civic space worldwide, the topics of criminalisation of Indigenous Rights Defenders’ activities and their organisations; land rights issues; and access to justice are more important
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María Lourdes Alcántara, anthropologist and coordinator of the Guaraní Youth Support Group of Mato Grosso del Sur (GAPK / AJI) and Professor of medical anthropology in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of São Paulo, reflects on the main threats to indigenous communities in Brazil after
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I klimakampen er truede oprindelige folk vigtige for at beskytte os i industrilandene mod os selv
Informes alternativos para el 3er Ciclo del Examen Periódico Universal del Estado de Chile: principales afectaciones a los derechos humanos referidas a Naciones Originarias, personas migrantes, niñez y adolescencia, sexualidades y géneros, violencia institucional y derechos
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At least 43 percent of the 7,000 languages spoken in the world today are endangered. Many of these belong to indigenous peoples and if something doesn't change soon, UNESCO predicts that we will lose as many as 3,000 indigenous languages by the end of this century. In an effort to raise public
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Recent reports by UN experts and human rights organisations document an alarming increase in violent attacks against and criminalisation of indigenous peoples defending their rights to their traditional lands and natural resources.
The 4th and 5th of March, IWGIA participates in the conference "Claiming Civic Space Together" in Copenhagen, and you are invited too.
This page only features the latest videos about indigenous issues that IWGIA or/and our partners have produced.
To get an overview of all our videos, please visit our Youtube channel
Recent reports by UN experts and human rights organizations document an alarming increase in violent attacks against and criminalisation of indigenous peoples defending their rights to their traditional lands and natural resources, particularly in the context of
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Human rights defenders are dying, attacked and criminalized all over the world. This is happening at an increasingly alarming rate. In 2017, over 400 people were killed while protecting their community’s land or natural resources. Approximately half of these were indigenous peoples. The
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New IWGIA project supports Ogiek communities in Kenya to get access to their ancestral land in the Mau Forest. The project focuses on ensuring the Ogiek peoples’ participation and the implementation of the historic ruling of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in favour of the Ogiek
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In May 2002, United Nations Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) held its first official meeting in New York. This was as a result of a groundbreaking process where indigenous peoples in nearly a decade pushed the boundaries for how United Nations functioned and overcame difficult
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Read the programme for the International conference in Copenhagen themed "Defending the Defenders - New Alliances for protecting indigenous peoples' rights" hosted by IWGIA.
IWGIA and Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) has together submitted this statement to draw attention to the worsening cases of violence against indigenous women at the UNSCW committee. Read the full statement in the following part.
2018 er året hvor International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) kan fejre 50 års jubilæum i vores forsvar af oprindelige folks rettigheder. På denne side kan du finde flere informationer af, hvad vi har opnået og hvilke trusler som oprindelige folk står overfor den dag i
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This year the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) celebrates 50 years of defending indigenous peoples' rights and we want to share with you some of the facts we are proud of and some of the issues that affect the world's 370 million indigenous peoples.
On the occasion of IWGIA's 50 years jubilee, IWGIA's Executive Director, Julie Koch, looks at the past 50 years development for indigenous peoples' rights and points to the main issues and opportunities for indigenous peoples.
IWGIA fully supports the press release published by the Indigenous Peoples Major Group that strongly condemns the persistent and gross human rights violations committed in Colombia and express solidarity with the indigenous peoples in the country.
The 9th of August is the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples and this page provides a brief overview of the most important international agreements related to indigenous peoples and some general facts about indigenous peoples.
In July 2018, The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) had its 11th session and IWGIA was present and made a statement about the worrying tendencies of an increased criminalization of indigenous environmental and human rights defenders. Read the full statement in this
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The rising tensions between states and indigenous peoples are reaching a tipping point and The Indigenous World 2018 adds to the documented records, highlighting the increase in attacks and killings of indigenous peoples while defending their lands. The
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Some encouraging developments in The Indigenous World 2018 show that the indigenous movement has placed itself at the core of a paradigm shift, pushing for a more inclusive and sustainable development. Indigenous peoples, in partnership with civil society and other human rights defenders, have
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The Danish support programme for indigenous rights in Bolivia came to an end on 31 December 2009, after 10 years in operation.
The aim of the programme was for indigenous peoples to "obtain full exercise of their economic, political, social and cultural rights", and substantial results were...
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,...
Vietnam is home to 53 ethnic minority groups who mostly live in the forested uplands. Numbering over twelve million people, they highly depend on forests for their livelihood and development. But the pressures on these forests are ever increasing, posing a serious threat to the lives and...
Briefing note about the environmental consequences of mineral mining on the indigenous Evenkis, Nenets, Dolgans, Nganasans and Ents of the Russian Taimyr Peninsula.
In the Taimyr Peninsula, the Norisk Nikel Company is extracting and processing precious minerals. It produces 35% of the world’s...
This manual aims to build the capacities of the indigenous peoples, networks and organizations to advocate and work for the effective implementation of FPIC for indigenous peoples in the activities and projects relating to REDD+.
In particular, the objective of this manual is to equip...
In Kemerovo Oblast, West Siberia, the coal-mining industry is extracting “black gold” while destroying the environment and the rich traditional culture and natural resource management of the Shorts and the Teleut– two of Russia’s small numbered indigenous peoples.
The development of...
Briefing note on how the Maasai have been affected by the Olkaria geothermal field that is placed on their ancestral land in Kenya.
Without proper consultation or free prior and informed consent the Maasai have to vacate 4,300 acres of land in order to be resettled on only 567 acres....
AIPP Submission to the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) on Safeguards Information System.
Due to the increasing and expanding operations of multinational corporations in indigenous peoples’ territories, the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) conducted this study on the business practices of these corporations in indigenous peoples’ territories. The study focuses on the operations...
The briefing paper analyses how gender relations in Asian indigenous societies have undergone and continue to undergo changes in response to external factors. Finally it draws conclusions and recommendations based on addressing problems through empowering indigenous women in traditional customary...
This publication is a compilation of two case studies conducted one in Yuhu Village, Yulong county, Yunnan, China and the second in Haruku village, Haruku Island, Indonesia. Both cases highlight the importance of indigenous knowledge and customary law for the success of conservation and...
This yearbook gives a comprehensive update on the current situation of indigenous peoples and their human rights situation across the world, and offers an overview of the most significant developments in international and regional processes relating to indigenous peoples during
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The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) addresses in this report State obligations with regard to extraction, exploitation, and development activities concerning natural resources. Through the implementation of its monitoring mechanisms, the Commission has consistently received
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This yearbook gives a global update on the current situation of indigenous peoples and their human rights and provides an overview of the main developments that have affected indigenous women and men in the course of 2015. In 54 country specific reports and 12 articles on international
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Successive UN Special Rapporteurs on the rights of indigenous peoples have expressed serious concerns in relation to the growing negative impacts of foreign investment on rights of indigenous peoples worldwide.
These investments often involve extraction of natural resources and large
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The report explores the evictions of pastoralists and other conflicts over pastoralists’ land in Tanzania, with focus on the past decade.
Although most of these evictions and land based conflicts have been documented, the associated human and legal rights violations have increasingly
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The fact that energy projects are green does not necessarily mean they accept and protect internationally-recognised human rights norms.
This report documents the adverse impact of Kenya’s goal to develop its renewable energy sector on indigenous peoples. It looks particularly at the
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Joint statement on the continued lack of protection of the rights of indigenous peoples with respect to their cultural heritage in the context of UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention
Joint statement of: Endorois Welfare Council, Saami Council &
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Seven years after the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, The Indigenous World 2015 looks at the most significant developments and setbacks for indigenous peoples’ rights at the national and international level during the previous year and at indigenous peoples’
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The success of the Post-2015 sustainable development goals (SDGs) will depend on the adoption of indicators that allow measuring progress towards targets and provide helpful information to policymakers. In preparation for the March 3-6, 2015 discussions at the UN in New York, the UN Statistical
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Varias comunidades indígenas mexicanas están probando un nuevo sistema operativo basado en software libre (Linux) para adaptarlo a sus lenguas, culturas y necesidades. El
In recent years, cases involving indigenous peoples have become a focal point of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights sessions’, and continued to take up a large proportion of the hearings this year. The
Significant focus on extractive industries at IACHR meetings in Washington
In early 2015, Maasai and Datoga citizens living in the Morogoro region of Tanzania were victims of deadly, ethnic violence. According to reports from local media, the assaults were instigated by public figures interested in acquiring land, and state authorities have not intervened to protect
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The book addresses cases from each of these continents, examining the experiences of indigenous peoples with access to remedy when their human rights are affected by corporate activities. By drawing from these experiences it seeks to inform the actions of corporate and State actors in relation
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This diverse collection of essays and articles emerged from a workshop held in Oslo in March 2012, hosted by the Norwegian Center for Human Rights and the University of Oslo. The purpose of the workshop was to gather memories of how the international community had decided to examine the
...The new United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, will carry out an official visit to Paraguay from 21 to 28 November 2014 to study the situation of indigenous peoples in the country .
"I will explore, among others, the issues of land
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This book includes 20 case studies of World Heritage sites from around the world and relevant background articles. The case studies explore and document, from a human rights perspective, indigenous peoples’ experiences with World Heritage sites and with the processes of the World Heritage
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This report examines the human rights situation of the 41 indigenous peoples living in the Northern and Asian territories of the Russian Federation. While their historical homelands account for two-thirds of the territory of contemporary Russia, these people number a little over 250,000
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: Recommendations for the Full Respect of their Human Rights
Prepared by the Rapporteurship on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the Inter-America Commission on Human Rights The western hemisphere is home to the largest number of indigenous peoples living in
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This report is the result of a monitoring visit to assess IWGIA’s support to promoting and defending indigenous peoples’ rights in the new constitution and beyond. Indigenous peoples in Nepal, known as adivasi janajati, have for centuries experienced systematic discrimination and
...UN International Day of Indigenous Peoples was celebrated in Cameroon, where the government has begun to recognize the existence of indigenous peoples in the country.
In June 2011, the UN Human Rights Council unanimously endorsed the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP). These principles form the first globally-agreed framework for preventing and addressing adverse human rights impacts linked to business activities. While the UNGP do not
...More than 60 Indigenous Women from Across the World Come Together to Address their Critical Role in Combating Climate Change.
At an international forum on community land and resource rights which took place 15 and 16 July, women from across the world called for
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While facing the coming COP 20, Peru must rectify the extractive model that exacerbates the global climate crisis.
The Unity Pact of National Indigenous Organizations of Peru called today on President Ollanta Humala not to enact the Bill 3627/2013-PE approved
During the recent UNFCCC Climate Change Conference in Bonn (June 4-15), the Peruvian government delegation expressed a clear commitment to facilitate indigenous peoples’ participation in the upcoming COP 20.
From 4-15 June, the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) convened in Bonn, Germany. Indigenous representatives from around the world followed the negotiations and lobbied government delegations for greater inclusion, and respect for their rights and
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The 2014 edition contains a comprehensive update on the current situation of indigenous peoples in 73 articles written by indigenous and non-indigenous scholars and activists.
The book provides 58 country reports and 15 articles on international processes, reflecting ongoing worldwide
...Uruguay will be the 16th country in Latin America to ratify the strongest international instrument on indigenous peoples’ rights, the ILO Convention 169, according to a recent announcement by the Uruguayan Ministry of Social Development.
El Relator Especial sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas, James Anaya, estuvo en Chile del 14 al 16 de abril de 2014 para brindar una conferencia sobre el deber estatal de consulta previa en un seminario organizado por la Universidad Diego Portales. Asimismo, realizó una exposición
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The comic book and video explain the basis of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), a mechanism and a process wherein indigenous peoples undertake their collective decision on matters that affects them. Our partner Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact Foundation (AIPP) has increasingly published
...On 12 February 2014, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples participated by videoconference in a discussion with indigenous peoples and organizations, members of civil society, and government officials regarding his report on the situation of indigenous peoples of Namibia,
...Durante las últimas semanas, IWGIA ha recibido noticias preocupantes desde Nueva York sobre las reticencias del actual Presidente de la Asamblea General a la hora de confirmar el nombramiento de un co-facilitador indígena para la preparación de la Conferencia Mundial de los Pueblos
...James Anaya, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, made a historic visit to American Indian Movement member Leonard Peltier in prison on Friday – an event expected to boost the growing movement to free the American Indian activist who is believed by Amnesty
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A survey conducted in ten districts of six regions of mainland Tanzania reveals deterioration of the situation of indigenous peoples and gross violations of their human rights. Evictions that take place with impunity are among the most serious problems found. Reports of various enquiry
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The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, James Anaya, acknowledged the cooperation of the Peruvian Government and the information provided with respect to laws, policies and programs on indigenous issues. He also highlighted the collaboration of the United Nations
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On Friday November 1, indigenous organizations reported the situation of isolated peoples in Peru to the Inter American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in Washington DC and denounced the Peruvian State is not applying norms for special protection of isolated peoples. Fasabi Daysi Zapata,
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IWGIA - International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs - is a global human rights organisation dedicated to promoting, protecting and defending indigenous peoples’ rights. Read more.
IWGIA's global report, the Indigenous World, provides an update of the current situation for indigenous peoples worldwide. Read The Indigenous World.
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DK 1422 Copenhagen
Denmark
Phone: (+45) 53 73 28 30
E-mail: iwgia@iwgia.org
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