A/71/229
Report of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights
Council on the rights of indigenous peoples,
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz
Summary
The present report is submitted to the General Assembly by the Special
Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples pursuant to her mandate under
Council resolutions 15/14 and 24/9. In the report, the Special Rapporteur provides a
brief summary of her activities since her previous report to the Assem bly, as well as
a thematic analysis of conservation measures and their impact on indigenous peoples ’
rights.
Protected areas have the potential of safeguarding the biodiversity for the
benefit of all humanity; however, these have also been associated wit h human rights
violations against indigenous peoples in many parts of the world. The complex
violations that have been faced by indigenous peoples in the wake of evermore
expanding protected areas have been raised by respective special rapporteurs during
numerous country visits and communications to governments.
The present report charts legal developments and commitments and measures
taken made to advance a human rights-based paradigm in conservation, while also
identifying key remaining challenges. The report concludes with recommendations
on how conservation, in policy and practice, can be developed in a manner which
respects indigenous peoples’ rights and enhances sustainable conservation.
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