A/73/176
Report of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on
the rights of indigenous peoples
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 Human
Rights Council resolution 33/12. In the report, the Special Rapporteur provides a
summary of her activities since her previous report to the Assembly and an
introductory comment on the issue of indigenous peoples and self -governance.
In the section on activities, the Special Rapporteur highlights recent thematic
work on topics relating to criminalization; consultation and free, prior and informed
consent; indigenous peoples in isolation and initial contact; country visits;
communications; and other activities. In the section on indigenous peoples and
self-governance, she reviews examples of indigenous governance systems documented
by the mandate holder and highlights some of the positive outcomes achieved in terms
of sustainable development.
Contents
Page
I.
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
II.
Activities of the Special Rapporteur in 2017 and 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
A.
Attacks against and criminalization of indigenous peoples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
B.
Consultation and free, prior and informed consent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
C.
Indigenous peoples in isolation and initial contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
D.
Country visits to Mexico and Guatemala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
E.
Communications and cooperation with human rights mechanisms, relevant United
Nations bodies and regional human rights organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7
Indigenous peoples and self-governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8
A.
Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8
B.
The international legal framework relating to indigenous peoples and self -governance .
9
C.
Self-governance and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12
D.
Examples of indigenous governance systems and their contributions to sustainable
development at the national level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
Key areas for future discussions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21
Concluding remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22
III.
E.
IV.
2/23
18-11856