Indigenous rights are currently at the forefront of the international human rights agenda. It is widely recognised that indigenous peoples are among the most marginalised and vulnerable around the world and their human rights situation is in need of urgent attention. International bodies have undertaken the challenge to help improve the situation of these communities. However, opinions differ about the relevant policies of states, the measures that must be taken and, ultimately, the rights that must be recognised as vested in these communities. Should they be given special protection? And to what extent? Should they have the right to decide on matters that affect them, even when such decisions affect the wider population of the state? This book will look at the responses that current international law offers to such questions.

These questions are already the focus of an ongoing international discussion, a discussion in which indigenous peoples have managed to secure a strong voice. Although dispersed around the world, their common characteristics and common history of oppression, discrimination and disrespect have led to shared claims at the international level. These communities would seem in the first instance unlikely protagonists of an international movement, because of their vulnerability, their scarce resources and the often limited modes of communicating with other communities due to different languages and poor transport. Yet, since 1977 when over 150 indigenous representatives attended a United Nations conference on discrimination against their communities, indigenous peoples have been increasingly active at the international level.