Abstract:

The rights of indigenous peoples have, over the past three decades, become an important component of international law and policy, as a result of a movement driven by indigenous peoples, civil society, international mechanisms and States at the domestic, regional and international levels. The United Nations human rights system—its mechanisms, laws and policies—have been at the heart of these developments with bodies such as the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations playing a groundbreaking role, which is continued by the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms, in cooperation with other key actors, including the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.