Abstract
This article discusses indigenous rights within the context of global governance. I begin by defining the terms “global governance” and “indigenous peoples” and summarizing the rights that are most important to indigenous peoples. The bulk of this article studies the global governance of indigenous rights in three areas. The first example is the creation of the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. A second example involves violations of indigenous rights brought before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. A third case looks at a relatively new international regime created by indigenous peoples themselves—the Inuit Circumpolar Council. I conclude by using theories of sovereignty to assess the relative successes and failures of indigenous efforts to secure their rights.
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Notes
Annual OAS Court reports from 1998 to 2009 provide summaries of 25 indigenous cases. The OAS Commission reported on 46 indigenous cases from 1991 to 2008 (with some overlapping of IACHR cases). A summary of all indigenous cases before the OAS Commission is beyond the scope of this research.
IACHR cases discussed here will be cited according to the litigants in each lawsuit and by the date for the Annual Report from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights where a summary of the Court's decision can be found.
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Meyer, W.H. Indigenous Rights, Global Governance, and State Sovereignty. Hum Rights Rev 13, 327–347 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12142-012-0225-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12142-012-0225-3