The 10th Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues will take place May 16 to 27

In 2007, the UN adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. One of the cornerstones of this declaration is the obligation placed on governments and corporations to obtain the “free, prior and informed consent (FPIC),” of the indigenous population, before any action is taken in relation to mining, harvesting of timber, or the use of plants and other living things found within indigenous territories. There is significant movement to have this right recognized as part of human rights law, and in some cases it has already been incorporated into national constitutions.

Indigenous peoples rarely benefit from large-scale development on their traditional lands. The dominant model of development gives priority to economic growth at the expense of environmental sustainability, equity, social justice and respect for human rights. This push to accelerate economic growth increases demand for minerals and other primary materials. Companies often pressure States for access to resource-rich land. Fragile environments and the people whose lands contain these resources are thus put at risk. There will be further discussion on the issue of mining and free, prior and informed consent at the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. For more information go to: www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii.