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Therefore, the non-adoption of a common definition but the acceptance of a modern
understanding may play a fairer role in the application of Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
Indigenous Peoples in South Asia
Out of the approx. 350 millions of Indigenous peoples, India alone has 88 millions: the
Adivasi (forest dwellers) constitute 8% of the Indian population. The so called “Scheduled
Tribes” are defined by the Constitution (Fifth and Sixth Schedule of the Indian
Constitution). The latter prescribes the promotion of social justice and special protection
against exploitation, but is in this respect only scarcely implemented.
In Nepal the movement of janjatis or indigenous nationalities is raising. The educational
and cultural rights, and social and economic justice for “background groups” have been
never translated into policies even though guaranteed by the Nepali Constitution.
In Bangladesh the existence of the indigenous tribal groups is denied by the State, even
tough they make up 1,13% of the total population.
Very few has been made for the small Sri Lankan indigenous groups of Veddhas
(‘hunters’) and Wanniyala-Aetto (“forest-dwellers”), as well as for the Pakistani groups
(including Kihals, Jhabils, Mors and Mohanas), that still wait for favourable provisions and
policies by their respective States.
Useful links:
International Labour Organization (ILO), at http://www.ilo.org/
UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, at
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/index.html
UN Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, at
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/2/sc.htm
UN 1994 Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, at
http://www.unhchr.ch/huridocda/huridoca.nsf/(Symbol)/E.CN.4.SUB.2.RES.1994.45.En
UN 2007 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, at
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/declaration.html
References:
Castellino Joshua & Walsh Niamh (Eds.), International Law & Indigenous Peoples
(Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague 2005).
Manchanda Rita (ed.), The No-Nonsense Guide to Minority Rights in South Asia (SAFHR,
Kathmandu 2006)
Sandoval De Escurdia Juan Martín, Los pueblos indígenas: Un marco conceptual sobre
autodeterminación, cultura y autonomía (Camara de Diputados - Servicio de
Investigación y Analísis, Mexico 2001), at
http://www.cddhcu.gob.mx/bibliot/publica/inveyana/polisoc/derindi/.
Thornberry Patrick, Indigenous Peoples & Human Rights (Manchester University Press,
2003)
Xanthanki Alexandra, Indigenous Rights & UN Standards; Self-Determination, Culture
and Land (Cambridge University Press, 2007)
Xanthaki Alexandra, “Indigenous Rights in the Russian Federation: The Case of
Numerically Small Peoples of the Russian North, Siberia and Far East”, in Human Rights
Quarterly, Volume 26, number 1 (February 2004), 74-105
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