Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Cultural Heritage and International Law pp 273–292Cite as

Cultural Identity and Self-Determination as Key Concepts in Concurring Legal Frameworks for the International Protection of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

This chapter analyzes the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples in light of both the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This analysis demonstrates that there are two key concepts in international human rights law that build the protection of indigenous peoples: cultural identity and self-determination. These concepts evoke respectively the cultural-identity-based framework and the self-determination-based framework. This chapter concludes that the relationship between both frameworks is inexplicit and very fragile. Additionally, the cultural-identity-based framework holds a more comprehensive protection for indigenous peoples and their lands than the self-determination-based framework.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    For the official record of adoption see United Nations Division for Social Policy and Development (2017).

  2. 2.

    This paper uses the concepts of “indigenous peoples” and “indigenous communities” as interchangeable terms. An analysis about the differences between these concepts lays beyond the scope of this research.

  3. 3.

    As of May 2017, the ILO Convention 169 had 22 ratifications and the ILO Convention 107 had 27 ratifications. For more information see: http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:11300:0::NO::P11300_INSTRUMENT_ID:312314. Accessed 31 May 2017.

  4. 4.

    Neither the UNDRIPS nor the ILO Conventions have monitoring bodies to receive complaints concerning the violation of their provisions in individual cases. A monitoring body is responsible for supervising the implementation of the ILO Conventions. Yet this body does not have the mandate to receive complaints by indigenous peoples and their organizations. For more information about the ILO supervisory system see: http://www.oit.org/global/about-the-ilo/how-the-ilo-works/ilo-supervisory-system-mechanism/lang--en/index.htm. Accessed 31 May 2017.

  5. 5.

    Among others see Inter-Am. Ct.H.R., Case of the Kichwa Indigenous People of Sarayaku against Ecuador, Merits and Reparations, Judgment of 27 Jun 2012, Series C No. 245; Inter-Am. Ct.H.R., Comunidad Moiwana against Suriname, Preliminary Exceptions, Merits, Reparations and Costs, Judgment of 15 Jun 2005, Series C No. 124; Inter-Am. C.H.R., Demanda de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos presentada ante la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, Comunidad Indígena Mayagna (Sumo) Awas Tingni contra la República de Nicaragua, 4 Jun 1998.

  6. 6.

    United Nations Division for Social Policy and Development (2017).

  7. 7.

    For details on the drafting process of the UNDRIPS see Ahrén (2009), pp. 206–209; Anaya (2009), p. 56; Charters (2009), pp. 285–287; Errico (2007), p. 743; Kingsbury (2017), paras 11–13; Xanthaki (2007), pp. 120–121.

  8. 8.

    Shortly after the adoption of the UNDRIPS there was a wide discussion in the literature about the normative value of the UNDRIPS. For details see Baldwin and Morel (2011), pp. 123–126; Charters (2010), p. 23; Lenzerini (2010a), p. 43; Wiessner (2008), p. 1162; Campbell and Anaya (2008), p. 398; Kingsbury (2017), para. 15.

  9. 9.

    Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, 226, para. 70.

  10. 10.

    For a similar argument see Barelli (2009), p. 972; Lenzerini (2010b), pp. 21–22.

  11. 11.

    Barelli (2009), pp. 968–983.

  12. 12.

    Cf. Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, 226, para. 70.

  13. 13.

    Barelli (2016), pp. 43–68.

  14. 14.

    Clavero (2016).

  15. 15.

    Cf. Article 1.3 ILO Convention 169.

  16. 16.

    Cf. Article 1.1 ICCPR and Article 1.1 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

  17. 17.

    Anaya (2009), pp. 73–74; Crawford (2012), p. 650; Oeter (2012), p. 494; Thornberry (2002), pp. 382–385.

  18. 18.

    The exercise of the right to self-determination by indigenous peoples within state’s borders is a highly controversial issue in international human rights law. For a substantive comprehension on this topic see Castellino (2005).

  19. 19.

    The right to self-determination dates back to the decolonization time and the related declarations of independence of former colonies. By that time, the UNGA adopted the recommendation 2625 of 24 Oct 1970 (U.N. Doc. A/Res/25/2625) which recognized the principle of self-determination of peoples. The adoption of the UNDRIPS by the UNGA gives a new meaning to the right to self-determination.

  20. 20.

    HRC, General Comment Nr. 33: The obligations of State Parties under the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 05 Nov 2008, 94th Session, UN Doc. CCPR/C/GC/33, para. 15.

  21. 21.

    The inclusion of indigenous communities in the category of minority groups is a highly controversial issue in international human rights law. For a good analysis on this topic see Kymlicka (2010).

  22. 22.

    HRC, General Comment Nr. 23: The rights of minorities (Art. 27), 08 Apr 1994, 50th Session, UN Doc. CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.5, para. 9.

  23. 23.

    HRC, General Comment Nr. 23: The rights of minorities (Art. 27), 08 Apr 1994, 50th Session, UN Doc. CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.5, para. 7.

  24. 24.

    There is a long-standing jurisprudence confirming the inadmissibility of complaints pursuant to Article 1 ICCPR. Among them see HRC, Ivan Kitok against Sweden, 27 Jul 1988, UN Doc. CCPR/C/33/D/197/1985, para. 6.3; HRC, Lubicon Lake Band against Canada, 26 Mar 1990, UN Doc. CCPR/C/38/D/167/1984, para. 32.2; HRC, Apirana Mahuika et al. against New Zealand, 27 Oct 2000, UN Doc. CCPR/C/70/D/547/1993, para. 9.2; HRC, Marie-Helene Gillot against France, 15 Jul 2002, UN Doc. CCPR/C/75/D/932/2000, para. 13.4; HRC, Angela Poma Poma against Peru, 27 Mar 2009, UN Doc. CCPR/C/95/D/1457/2006, para. 6.3.

  25. 25.

    HRC, Lubicon Lake Band against Canada, 26 Mar 1990, UN Doc. CCPR/C/38/D/167/1984, para. 32.1.

  26. 26.

    For a similar understanding see Tyagi (2011), pp. 598–599; Nowak (2005), p. 19.

  27. 27.

    Group rights have no universal definition in international law. As a working definition, with group rights this paper refers to the rights, which the right holder is the group itself. For a discussion in this regard see Buchanan (1993), pp. 93–95; Pogge (1997), pp. 191–193; Wenzel (2008), pp. 19–27.

  28. 28.

    For a more detailed explanation of this argument see Nowak (2005), pp. 829–831; Cassese (1995), pp. 144–145.

  29. 29.

    Cf. Art. 15.2 ILO Convention 169 and Art. 28-29 American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

  30. 30.

    See above Sect. 2.1.

  31. 31.

    Among others see Descola (2000), pp. 15–103; Viveiros de Castro (2013), pp. 317–400.

  32. 32.

    Cf. Article 26 and 32 UNDRIPS.

  33. 33.

    For more details on this issue see Errico (2011), pp. 340–341; Xanthaki (2007), pp. 117–118.

  34. 34.

    United Nations Division for Social Policy and Development (2017).

  35. 35.

    Scheinin (2005), pp. 3–8.

  36. 36.

    HRC, J.G.A. Diergaard et al. against Namibia, 25 Jul 2000, UN Doc. CCPR/C/69/D/760/1997, Individual Opinion of Elizabeth Evatt and Cecilia Medina Quiroga. Similarly see Thornberry (2002), pp. 160.

  37. 37.

    HRC, Angela Poma Poma against Peru, 27 Mar 2009, UN Doc. CCPR/C/95/D/1457/2006, para. 7.3.

  38. 38.

    For this interpretation see, among others, Barelli (2016), pp. 37–40; Errico (2007), p. 753; Gilbert (2007), p. 223.

  39. 39.

    For this argument see, among others, Barelli (2012), p. 11; Engle (2011), p. 157; Pentassuglia (2011), pp. 179–180.

  40. 40.

    For a detailed explanation see Gilbert and Doyle (2011), pp. 304–320.

  41. 41.

    A comprehensive analysis on the issue of permanent sovereignty over natural resources refers to Schrijver (1997).

  42. 42.

    An unparalleled substantial analysis regarding the existence of binding obligations for indigenous peoples refers to Wenzel (2008), pp. 404–460.

  43. 43.

    For this particular aspect of Article 32 UNDRIPS see Barelli (2012), p. 10.

  44. 44.

    In order to take an insider look on the drafting process of the UNDRIPS see Chávez (2009).

  45. 45.

    Garner (2014), pp. 1656; 1675.

  46. 46.

    HRC, Angela Poma Poma against Peru, 27 Mar 2009, UN Doc. CCPR/C/95/D/1457/2006, para. 7.6.

  47. 47.

    HRC, Ilmari Lansman et al. against Finland, 26 Oct 1994, UN Doc. CCPR/C/52/D/511/1992, paras 9.4–9.5.

  48. 48.

    HRC, Angela Poma Poma against Peru, 27 Mar 2009, UN Doc. CCPR/C/95/D/1457/2006, para. 7.7.

  49. 49.

    HRC, Angela Poma Poma against Peru, 27 Mar 2009, UN Doc. CCPR/C/95/D/1457/2006, para. 7.6.

  50. 50.

    For a detailed explanation on the relationship between the effective control of lands by indigenous peoples and self-determination see Ludescher (2004), pp. 363–398.

  51. 51.

    See the HRC on this issue: Examen de los informes presentados por los Estados partes en virtud del articulo 40 del Pacto, Observaciones finales del Comite de Derechos Humanos, UN Doc. CCPR/C/COL/CO/6, 2010, para. 25; Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under Article 40 of the Covenant, Concluding observations of the HRC, UN Doc. CCPR/C/SLV/CO/6, 2010, para. 18; Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under Article 40 of the Covenant, Concluding observations of the HRC, UN Doc. CCPR/C/TGO/CO/4, 2011, para. 21; Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under Article 40 of the Covenant, Concluding observations of the HRC, UN Doc. CCPR/C/KEN/CO/3, 2012, para. 24; Concluding observations on Belize in the absence of a report, UN Doc. CCPR/C/BLZ/CO/1, 2013, para. 25; Concluding observations on the fourth periodic report of the United States of America, UN Doc. CCPR/C/USA/CO/4, 2014, para. 25.

References

  • Ahrén M (2009) The provisions on lands, territories and natural resources in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: an introduction. In: Charters C, Stavenhagen R (eds) Making the declaration work: the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, Copenhagen, pp 200–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Anaya SJ (2009) International human rights and indigenous peoples. Elective series. Wolters Kluwer Law & Business, Austin

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin C, Morel C (2011) Using the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in litigation. In: Allen S, Xanthaki A (eds) Reflections on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Hart Publishing, Oxford, pp 121–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Barelli M (2009) The role of soft law in the international legal system: the case of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Int Comp Law Q 58:957–983

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barelli M (2012) Free, prior and informed consent in the aftermath of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: developments and challenges ahead. Int J Hum Rights 16(1):1–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barelli M (2016) Seeking justice in international law: the significance and implications of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Routledge Research in International Law. Routledge, Abingdon

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan A (1993) The role of collective rights in the theory of indigenous peoples’ rights. Transnat Law Contemp Probl 3:89–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell MS, Anaya SJ (2008) The case of the Maya villages of Belize: reversing the trend of government neglect to secure indigenous land rights. Hum Rights Law Rev 8:377–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cassese A (1995) Self-determination of peoples: a legal reappraisal. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Castellino J (2005) The “Right” to land, international law & indigenous peoples. In: Castellino J, Walsh N (eds) International law and indigenous peoples. Martinus Nijhoff, Leiden, pp 89–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Charters C (2009) The legitimacy of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In: Charters C, Stavenhagen R (eds) Making the declaration work: the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, Copenhagen, pp 280–303

    Google Scholar 

  • Charters CWN (2010) Land rights. In: International Law Association (ed) Rights of indigenous peoples. Wellington, pp 20–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Chávez LE (2009) The declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples breaking the impasse: the middle ground. In: Charters C, Stavenhagen R (eds) Making the declaration work: the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, Copenhagen, pp 96–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Clavero B (2016) La Declaración Americana sobre Derechos de Los Pueblos Indígenas: El Reto de la Interpretación de Una Norma Contradictoria, Peru

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford J (2012) Brownlie’s principles of public international law, 8th edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Descola P (2000) In the society of nature: a native ecology in Amazonia. Cambridge studies in social and cultural anthropology, vol 93. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Engle K (2011) On fragile architecture: the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the context of human rights. Eur J Int Law 22(1):141–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Errico S (2007) The draft UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: an overview. Hum Rights Law Rev 7:741–755

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Errico S (2011) The controversial issue of natural resources: balancing states’ sovereignty with indigenous peoples’ rights. In: Allen S, Xanthaki A (eds) Reflections on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Hart Publishing, Oxford, pp 329–366

    Google Scholar 

  • Garner BA (ed) (2014) Black’s law dictionary, 10th edn. Thomson Reuters, St. Paul

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert J (2007) Indigenous rights in the making: the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Int J Minor Group Rights 14:207–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert J, Doyle C (2011) A new dawn over the land: shedding light on collective ownership and consent. In: Allen S, Xanthaki A (eds) Reflections on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Hart Publishing, Oxford, pp 289–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Kingsbury B (2017) Indigenous peoples. In: Wolfrum R (ed) Max Planck encyclopedia of public international law. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Kymlicka W (2010) Minority rights in political and philosophy and international law. In: Besson S, Tasioulas J (eds) The philosophy of international law. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 377–396

    Google Scholar 

  • Lenzerini F (2010a) Rights of indigenous peoples under customary international law. In: International Law Association (ed) Rights of indigenous peoples, pp 43–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Lenzerini F (2010b) The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: amending five centuries of wrongs. In: Te Rito JS, Healy SM (eds) Kei Muri i te Awe Kāpara he Tangata Kē: Recognising, engaging, understanding difference: 4th International Traditional Knowledge Conference 2010. Knowledge Exchange Programme of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga New Zealand’s Māori Centre of Research Excellence, Auckland, pp 19–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Ludescher M (2004) Menschenrechte und indigene Völker. Peter Lang, Frankfurt a.M.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nowak M (ed) (2005) U.N. Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: CCPR commentary, 2nd revised edition. N.P. Engel, Kehl

    Google Scholar 

  • Oeter S (2012) The protection of indigenous peoples in international law revisited: from non-discrimination to self-determination. In: Hestermeyer HP, König D, Matz-Lück N, Röben V, Seibert-Fohr A, Stoll P-T, Vöneky S (eds) Coexistence, cooperation and solidarity: Liber Amicorum Ruediger Wolfrum. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Leiden, pp 477–502

    Google Scholar 

  • Pentassuglia G (2011) Towards a jurisprudential articulation of indigenous land rights. Eur J Int Law 22(1):165–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pogge T (1997) Group rights and ethnicity. Am Soc Polit Leg Philos 39:187–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheinin M (2005) Indigenous Peoples’ Rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In: Castellino J, Walsh N (eds) International law and indigenous peoples. Martinus Nijhoff, Leiden, pp 3–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Schrijver N (1997) Sovereignty over natural resources: balancing rights and duties. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Thornberry P (2002) Indigenous peoples and human rights. Manchester University Press, Juris Publishing, Manchester

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Tyagi Y (2011) The UN Human Rights Committee: practice and procedure. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Division for Social Policy and Development (2017) United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples.html. Accessed 31 May 2017

  • Viveiros de Castro E (2013) A inconstancia da alma selvagem: e outros ensaios de antropologia, 5th edn. Cosacnaify, Sao Paulo

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenzel N (2008) Das Spannungsverhältnis zwischen Gruppenschutz und Individualschutz im Völkerrecht: The protection of groups in international law in tension with the protection of the individual. Beiträge zum ausländischen öffentlichen Recht und Völkerrecht, vol 191. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiessner S (2008) Indigenous sovereignty: a reassessment in the light of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Vanderbilt J Transnat Law 41:1141–1176

    Google Scholar 

  • Xanthaki A (2007) Indigenous rights and United Nations standards: self-determination, culture and land. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of International and European Law, Georg-August University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany

    Mariana Monteiro de Matos

Authors
  1. Mariana Monteiro de Matos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. IREDIES, Pantheon-Sorbonne University, Paris, France

    Evelyne Lagrange

  2. Faculty of Law, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Stefan Oeter

  3. Faculty of Law, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    Robert Uerpmann-Wittzack

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

de Matos, M.M. (2018). Cultural Identity and Self-Determination as Key Concepts in Concurring Legal Frameworks for the International Protection of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In: Lagrange, E., Oeter, S., Uerpmann-Wittzack, R. (eds) Cultural Heritage and International Law. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78789-3_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78789-3_13

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-78788-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-78789-3

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation