Background

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Protecting Indigenous Peoples in Asia: Challenges and Pathways Forward

In Asia, Indigenous Peoples have long been the custodians of their customary territories, sustaining their communities through generations of indigenous knowledge and land stewardship. Despite this, many continue to face growing threats from state-led and corporate-driven development projects—such as mining, large-scale plantations, energy, infrastructure, tourism, and conservation—that proceed without their free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC).

 

While the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), signed by several Asian governments affirms Indigenous Peoples’ rights to full and effective participation in decisions affecting their lives and lands, implementation remains weak. Across the region, Indigenous communities are often excluded from development planning processes, resulting in land dispossession, displacement, cultural erosion, and environmental degradation.

Indigenous leaders bring critical perspectives on the impacts of energy transitions, tourism, national strategic project and land-based investments. They highlight the importance of aligning development with Indigenous self-determination, meaningful and effective participation, and equitable benefit-sharing.

This session will explore key trends and threats faced by Indigenous communities in the context of extractive industries, energy transitions, national strategic project and other land-intensive projects. It will also generate practical recommendations, including calls for mandatory human rights due diligence, stronger recognition of Indigenous rights and FPIC, and the essential roles of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in ensuring accountability and protection.

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Key Objectives

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• Highlight human rights violations affecting Indigenous communities, including land grabbing, displacement, and violence linked to extractive industries and energy, tourism, national strategic project and agribusiness projects.

• Promote meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples in decision-making processes, ensuring respect for FPIC and self-determination.

• Recommend stronger accountability through Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) and the active roles of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and AICHR in upholding Indigenous rights.

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Guiding Questions

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• What human rights violations are Indigenous communities facing due to land grabbing, displacement, or violence linked to extractive industries, tourism, agribusiness, or national strategic projects?

• How can governments and companies ensure meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples, including respecting their right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and self-determination? 

• What steps can be taken to strengthen accountability through Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD), and how can institutions like NHRIs and AICHR more effectively uphold Indigenous rights?

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Format

• Interactive Session Format with the Audience Q n A.

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Session Partners