A/71/229
Principles on Internal Displacement emphasize that States are under a particular
obligation to protect against the displacement of indigenous peoples and other
groups with a special dependency on and attachment to their lands (principle 9).
Due to the special relationship that indigenous peoples have with their land and the
profound impact forced displacement has on their survival, human rights treaty
bodies have consistently expressed concerns over the forcible displacement of
indigenous peoples and urged States to provide reparation, with emphasis on the
obligation to provide restitution of their original lands. 16 Reparation measures
should be provided in accordance with international standards and, where
appropriate, should entail elements of restitution, compensation, rehabilitation,
satisfaction and guarantees of non-recurrence. 17
26. ILO Convention No. 169 (article 16) and the Declaration on the Rights on
Indigenous Peoples (article 10) stipulate that indigenous peoples shall not be forcibly
removed from their lands unless they have provided their free, prior and informed
consent. Should such violations have occurred, they have the right to fair reparation
including restitution and compensation and, where possible, the option of returning to
their lands. Article 28 of the Declaration furthermore stresses the right of indigenous
peoples to redress, by means that can include restitution or, when this is not possible,
just, fair and equitable compensation, for the lands, territories and resources which
they have traditionally owned or otherwise occupied or used, and which have been
confiscated, taken, occupied, used or damaged without their free, prior and informed
consent. Unless otherwise freely agreed upon by the peoples concerned,
compensation shall take the form of lands, territories and resources equal in quality,
size and legal status or of monetary compensation or other appropriate redress.
D.
Regional human rights systems
27. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American
Court of Human Rights, with particular reference to property rights (article 21) of
the American Convention on Human Rights, have provided key jurisprudence on the
rights of indigenous peoples to communal lands, including in the context of
protected areas. The Awas Tingni v. Nicaragua case decided by the Inter-American
Court of Human Rights in 2001 set an important precedent as it was the first
binding judgment, confirming that indigenous communal land rights arise by virtue
of traditional occupation despite the lack of official legal title. 18 The Court has
furthermore held that indigenous peoples maintain their property rights even when
they have been forced to leave or have otherwise lost possession of their traditional
lands, including where their lands have been expropriated or transferred to third
parties, unless this was done consensually and in good faith. 19
__________________
16
17
18
19
16-13163
See Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, general recommendation No. 23;
see also CERD/C/BWA/CO/16 and CERD/C/NAM/CO/12, discussed in Fergus MacKay,
“Addressing past wrongs: indigenous peoples and protected areas — the right to restitution of
lands and resources”, Forest Peoples Programme Occasional Paper, 2002.
See General Assembly resolution 60/147, see also CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add. 13, 2004, para.16.
Inter-American Court on Human Rights, Mayagna (Sumo) Awas Tingni Community v. Nicaragua,
Judgment, 31 August 2001, ser. C, No. 79.
Inter-American Court on Human Rights, Yakye Axa Indigenous Community v. Paraguay,
Judgment, 17 June 2005, ser. C, No. 125; Sawhoyamaxa Indigenous Community v. Paraguay.
Judgment of 29 March 2006. Series C No. 146.
11/25