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DOCUMENT: DEC_PRIN.TXT
 

                      U N I T E D   N A T I O N S

     Working Paper No.4/Addendum 4        29 July 1985 
     E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.4/1985/WP.4/Add.4    Original: ENGLISH/SPANISH
     GE.85-12538

     COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
     Sub-Commission on Prevention of
     Discrimination and Protection
     of Minorities

     Working Group on Indigenous Populations
     Fourth session
     Geneva
     29 July - 2 August 1985
     Item 5 of the agenda
 

                     STANDARD-SETTING ACTIVITIES:

             EVOLUTION OF STANDARDS CONCERNING THE RIGHTS 
                       OF INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS

        DRAFTING OF A BODY OF PRINCIPLES ON INDIGENOUS RIGHTS,
         BASED ON RELEVANT NATIONAL LEGISLATION, INTERNATIONAL
               INSTRUMENTS AND OTHER JURIDICAL CRITERIA

         Material received from non-governmental organizations
                    in consultative status with the
                      Economic and Social Council
 

                                                             Page
                                                             ----
     Draft Declaration of Principles Proposed by the 
     Indian Law Resource Center, Four Directions 
     Council, National Aboriginal and Islander Legal 
     Service, National Indian Youth Council, Inuit 
     Circumpolar Conference, and the International 
     Indian Treaty Council ..................................  2 

     E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.4/1985/WP.4/Add.4 
     page 2 

          A special assembly of indigenous NGOs including the 
     Indian Law Resource Center, Four Directions Council, 
     National Aboriginal and Islander Legal Service, National 
     Indian Youth Council, Inuit Circumpolar Conference, and 
     International Indian Treaty Council, as well as other 
     indigenous national and organizational delegations from 
     Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, India, Mexico, 
     Norway, Peru, and the United States, was held at the Palais 
     des Nations, Geneva, from 22 to 26 July 1985. The purpose of 
     this meeting was to seek consensus on action to be taken at 
     the fourth session of the Working Group on Indigenous 
     Populations. 

          The development of a United Nations declaration on the 
     rights of indigenous peoples was the principal topic of 
     discussion, and it was generally agreed that progress 
     depended on the Working Group's adoption and dissemination 
     of a working text or outline of principles for refinement at 
     its future sessions. 

          The assembly reviewed with particular interest the 
     draft principles prepared by various indigenous 
     organizations and previously tabled with the Working Group, 
     and invited a small drafting group to incorporate 
     participants' comments into a revised text. The assembly 
     reviewed, amended and adopted this revised text by consensus 
     on 26 July, and agreed to table it with the Working Group on 
     Indigenous Populations as a possible working text. 

          English and Spanish versions of the draft principles 
     are equally authoritative. 

                       DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES 

          1. Indigenous nations and peoples have, in common with 
     all humanity, the right to life, and to freedom from 
     oppression, discrimination, and aggression. 

          2. All indigenous nations and peoples have the right to 
     self-determination, by virtue of which they have the right 
     to whatever degree of autonomy or self-government they 
     choose. This includes the right to freely determine their 
     political status, freely pursue their own economic, social, 
     religious and cultural development, and determine their own 
     membership and/or citizenship, without external 
     interference. 

          3. No State shall asset any jurisdiction over an 
     indigenous nation or people, or its territory, except in 
     accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the nation or 
     people concerned. 

          4. Indigenous nations and peoples are entitled to the 
     permanent control and enjoyment of their aboriginal 
     ancestral-historical territories. This includes surface and 
     subsurface rights, inland and coastal waters, renewable and 
     nonrenewable resources, and the economies based on these 
     resources. 

          5. Rights to share and use land, subject to the 
     underlying and inalienable title of the indigenous nation or 
     people, may be granted by their free and informed consent, 
     as evidenced in a valid treaty or agreement. 

     E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.4/1985/WP.4/Add.4 
     page 3 

          6. Discovery, conquest, settlement on a theory of TERRA 
     NULLIUS and unilateral legislation are never legitimate 
     bases for States to claim or retain the territories of 
     indigenous nations or peoples. 

          7. In cases where lands taken in violation of these 
     principles have already been settled, the indigenous nation 
     or people concerned is entitled to immediate restitution, 
     including compensation for the loss of use, without 
     extinction of original title. Indigenous peoples' desire to 
     regain possession and control of sacred sites must always be 
     respected. 

          8. No State shall participate financially or militarily 
     in the involuntary displacement of indigenous populations, 
     or in the subsequent economic exploitation or military use 
     of their territory. 

          9. The laws and customs of indigenous nations and 
     peoples must be recognized by States' legislative, 
     administrative and judicial institutions and, in case of 
     conflicts with State laws, shall take precedence. 

          10. No State shall deny an indigenous nation, 
     community, or people residing within its borders the right 
     to participate in the life of the State in whatever manner 
     and to whatever degree they may choose. This includes the 
     right to participate in other forms of collective action and 
     expression. 

          11. Indigenous nations and peoples continue to own and 
     control their material culture, including archeological, 
     historical and sacred sites, artifacts, designs, knowledge, 
     and works of art. They have the right to regain items of 
     major cultural significance and, in all cases, to the return 
     of the human remains of their ancestors for burial in 
     accordance with their traditions. 

          12. Indigenous nations and peoples have the right to be 
     educated and conduct business with States in their own 
     languages, and to establish their own educational 
     institutions. 

          13. No technical, scientific or social investigations, 
     including archeological excavations, shall take place in 
     relation to indigenous nations or peoples, or their lands, 
     without their prior authorization, and their continuing 
     ownership and control. 

          14. The religious practices of indigenous nations and 
     peoples shall be fully respected and protected by the laws 
     of States and by international law. Indigenous nations and 
     peoples shall always enjoy unrestricted access to, and 
     enjoyment of sacred sites in accordance with their own laws 
     and customs, including the right of privacy. 

          15. Indigenous nations and peoples are subjects of 
     international law. 

     E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.4/1985/WP.4/Add.4 
     page 4 

          16. Treaties and other agreements freely made with 
     indigenous nations or peoples shall be recognized and 
     applied in the same manner and according to the same 
     international laws and principles as treaties and agreements 
     entered into with other States. 

          17. Disputes regarding the jurisdiction, territories 
     and institutions of an indigenous nation or people are a 
     proper concern of international law, and must be resolved by 
     mutual agreement or valid treaty. 

          18. Indigenous nations and peoples may engage in self-
     defense against State actions in conflict with their right 
     to self-determination. 

          19. Indigenous nations and peoples have the right 
     freely to travel, and to maintain economic, social, cultural 
     and religious relations with each other across State 
     borders. 

          20. In addition to these rights, indigenous nations and 
     peoples are entitled to the enjoyment of all the human 
     rights and fundamental freedoms enumerated in the 
     international Bill of Rights and other United Nations 
     instruments. In no circumstances shall they be subjected to 
     adverse discrimination. 

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