Indigenous Peoples and Peacebuilding: A compilation of best practices

Addressing the deep rooted structural causes of violent conflict in a comprehensive manner is regarded as the key principle of the UN approach to peacebuilding. Reducing the risk of lapsing or relapsing into conflict, strengthening national capacities for conflict transformation, and developing governmental and civil society skills are some of the objectives that fall within the peace consolidation strategy. The promotion and protection of human rights represents the key step towards sustainable peace as the violation of fundamental rights is often amongst the root causes of violent conflict.

 

The relevance of the promotion of human rights as an instrument for peacebuilding is even higher in the context of indigenous rights because they are often linked to grievances related to the conflict. Some of these grievances have been highlighted  in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007) which makes clear reference to “historic injustices as a result of, inter alia, their colonization and dispossession of their lands, territories and resources, thus preventing them from exercising, in particular, their right to development in accordance with their own needs and interests”.

 

This publication is the result of the Barcelona workshop on Indigenous Peoples and Peacebuilding that was held from 9th to 13th November 2009. The workshop aimed at exploring the interrelation that characterizes indigenous rights and peacebuilding, by identifying and sharing some of the best practices that have emerged from past and current peace processes.

 

Some of the common discrimination that Indigenous Peoples face and that were analyzedduring the workshop include participation in public life, use of land, cultural violence and racism.

 

From a theoretical perspective, the workshop focused on the benefits of integrating indigenous rights in the peacebuilding approach, and pointed out the conflict potential that disregarding this dimension implies. From a more practical point of view, the exchange amongst participants helped to improve knowledge on how to integrate indigenous perspectives into peacebuilding efforts. 

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