Study on Consultation and Free, Prior and Informed Consent with Indigenous Peoples in Africa
The right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is a fundamental right for Indigenous Peoples worldwide. However, there are serious global challenges in its implementation, including across the African continent.
This study examines human rights standards related to FPIC in Africa and the experiences and challenges of implementing FPIC for Indigenous Peoples in a number of African countries, including experiences with Biocultural Community Protocols (BCPs) as provided by the Nagoya Protocol.
The study also provides a comparative overview of experiences and developments in the implementation of FPIC in other regions, primarily Latin America, with a focus on Indigenous Peoples’ own initiatives, particularly through autonomous consultation protocols. It is hoped that this international and comparative perspective can provide inspiration and avenues to address the challenges of implementing FPIC and other rights of Indigenous Peoples in Africa.
The study was commissioned by IWGIA and carried out by Leonardo J. Alvarado, an Indigenous human rights lawyer and expert on Indigenous Peoples’ rights issues. The study was carried out in consultation with expert members of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities and Minorities in Africa of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
