World Heritage Sites and Indigenous Peoples' Rights: An Introduction (original) (raw)

Abstract

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The paper discusses the intersection of World Heritage Sites and the rights of Indigenous Peoples, highlighting issues stemming from the incorporation of indigenous lands into the World Heritage List and the historical exclusion of indigenous voices in decision-making processes. Key points include the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the ongoing responsibilities of UN institutions, including UNESCO, in protecting these rights. The authors critique past non-transparent nomination processes and call for a shift towards inclusive practices that respect the cultural and spiritual significance of indigenous territories.

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References (78)

  1. Contained in ibid., para. 77. The ten criteria have been occasionally revised by the Committee to reflect the evolution of the World Heritage concept. Now numbered (i) through (x), they were labeled cultural criteria (i)-(vi) and natural criteria (i)-(iv) until 2004.
  2. See ibid., paras. 78, 87-95. Integrity is a measure of the wholeness and intactness of the natural and/or cultural heritage and its attributes.
  3. See ibid., paras. 78-86. In essence, a cultural heritage site meets the condition of authenticity if it is 'genuine' (i.e. if it is truly what it claims to be) and if the information sources about its heritage values may be understood as credible or truthful. See Jokilehto 1999, p. 11 f.
  4. For details, see Operational Guidelines, paras. 78, 96-119.
  5. See ibid., paras. 45-47. A sub-category of cultural World Heritage sites are cultural landscapes, which represent the "combined works of nature and of man" mentioned in Article 1 of the World Heritage Convention. The cultural landscapes category was introduced by the World Heritage Committee in 1992. See Annex 3 of the Operational Guidelines. 79 Operational Guidelines, paras. 24(a), 63 and 65.
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