Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

This study of the rights of indigenous peoples looks at the historical, cultural, and legal background to the position of indigenous peoples in a range of different cultures, including America, Africa and Australia. It defines who and what indigenous peoples actually are, and looks at their position in the light of the development of international law. The study the looks at their legal position, and their economic, social and cultural rights in respect of various laws and conventions passed on a national and international scale throughout the world. It considers the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Racial Discrimination Convention, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the UN Draft Declaration in Indigenous Peoples and the Proposed American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. There is discussion on how the development of human rights legislation and principles as a central tenet of international law has been of considerable benefit to indigenous peoples.