Transforming Law and Institution: Indigenous Peoples, the United Nations and Human Rights

by Morgan,Rhiannon

• ISBN13: 9780754674450
• ISBN10: 0754674452
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-11-28
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

In the past thirty or so years, discussions of the status and rights of indigenous peoples have come to the forefront of the United Nations human rights agenda. During this period, indigenous peoples have emerged as legitimate subjects of international law with rights to exist as distinct peoples. At the same time, we have witnessed the establishment of a number of UN fora and mechanisms on indigenous issues, including the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, all pointing to the importance that the UN has come to place on the protection of indigenous peoples. Morgan describes, analyses, and evaluates the efforts of the global indigenous movement to engender changes in UN discourse and international law on indigenous peoples' rights and in the organizational structure of the UN system itself. By the same token, focusing on the interaction of the global indigenous movement with the UN system, this book also examines the reverse influence, that is, the ways in which interacting with the UN system has influenced the claims, tactical repertoires, and organizational structures of the movement.