United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), adopted by the General Assembly in 2007, is a comprehensive international instrument that sets the minimum standards for the survival, dignity, and well-being of Indigenous peoples worldwide, affirming both their collective and individual human rights. The Declaration is founded on the inherent right to self-determination, granting Indigenous peoples the right to autonomously determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development, including maintaining and strengthening their own distinct institutions. A core component of UNDRIP is the right to their traditional lands, territories, and resources, which requires States to obtain the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples before approving projects or legislation affecting their rights or their lands, territories, and resources. Furthermore, it affirms the rights of Indigenous peoples to their culture, language, and traditional knowledge, and emphasizes that States must take specific measures to protect Indigenous individuals, particularly women and children, against all forms of discrimination and violence.