Social justice for Indigenous Peoples is a critical issue related to historical and current injustices, ongoing systemic discrimination, and the need for equal opportunity.
Indigenous Peoples around the world face a legacy of colonization, dispossession of rights to their lands, territories and resources, traditional lifestyles, the right to equitable development and cultural erasure. This has resulted in systemic problems such as ongoing violations of their rights, poverty, poor health, inequalities in education and employment, and discrimination in justice systems.
All of this results in Indigenous Peoples being disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and climate change, loss of biodiversity and natural disasters and disease outbreaks, which are increasing annually across the planet.
Indigenous Peoples, inextricably linked to the land and natural resources, are subjected to greater social injustice when industrial and extractive companies enter their territories, destroying not only their homes and resources, but also their cultures, languages, sacred sites and ceremonies. The struggle of Indigenous Peoples for their rights and lands often ends with the killing and forced disappearance of activists, threats and attacks on their families and friends, criminalization, illegal arrests and unjust sentences.
Today, February 20, on the World Day of Social Justice, we unfortunately acknowledge the lack of social justice Indigenous Peoples experience around the world,
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is the basis and minimum standard for advancing social justice for Indigenous Peoples, which is why Cultural Survival emphasizes the need for States to implement the main and core principles of the UNDRIP at national and local levels. Ensuring the implementation of the UNDRIP, and the fulfillment of other international legal obligations, will be the basis for achieving social justice for Indigenous Peoples:
- Self-determination: The right of Indigenous People to govern themselves and make decisions about their lands, resources, culture and future development.
- Equality and non-discrimination: Combating systemic racism and ensuring equal access to all opportunities, including food, education, health care, jobs and economic development.
- Respect and protection of culture: Preserving Indigenous Peoples' languages, traditions and knowledge systems and recognizing their contributions in different areas of development,
- Participation in decision-making: Ensuring that Free, Prior and Informed Consent is mainstreamed and that Indigenous Peoples' voices are included in policies and programs that affect them.
