International Law and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights: What Next for the Chagossians

Schwebel, Amy

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-78541-7_13

Amy Schwebel⁵

Part of the book series: The World of Small States ((WSS,volume 4))

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2 Citations

Abstract

This chapter reviews key concepts concerning indigenous peoples’ rights, particularly with respect to land, under international law and their relevance to the experience of the Chagossians in their struggle to secure a right of return to the Chagos Islands. Major developments in indigenous peoples’ rights under international law at the regional and international level are considered including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, significant cases before regional human rights mechanisms, and the requirement of free, prior and informed consent. The relevant international law is applied to the situation of the Chagossians demonstrating that the Chagossians have a right to an effective remedy and reparation for the violations of their human rights under international law.

Minority Rights Group International. Minority Rights Group International campaigns worldwide with around 130 partners in over 60 countries to ensure that disadvantaged minorities and indigenous peoples, often the poorest of the poor, can make their voices heard. This chapter was prepared following a presentation by Carl Söderbergh, Director of Policy & Communications at Minority Right Groups International, on the same topic at the closed expert workshop on 12 November 2015 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

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Notes

1.
United Nations Commission on Human Rights (Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities) ‘Study of the Problem of Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations, Report of the Special Rapporteur of the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities’ (1986) UN Doc E/CN.4/Sub.2/1986/7/Add.4.
2.
International Labour Organisation ‘Convention No. 107: Indigenous and Tribal Populations Convention’ (40th ILC session Geneva, 26 June 1957).
3.
ibid, Article 1.
4.
Mick Dodson cited in United Nations Commission on Human Rights (Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities) ‘Report of the Working Group on Indigenous populations’ (10 June 1996a) UN Doc E/CN/4/Sub/2/AC.4/1996/2, [35].
5.
International Labour Organisation Convention No. 107 (n 2), Article 1.
6.
See, for example, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) (14 December 1990) Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2625 (XXV) (24 October 1970) Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
7.
United Nations Commission on Human Rights (Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities) ‘Study of the Problem of Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations, Report of the Special Rapporteur of the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities’ (n 1) [51].
8.
ibid, [74].
9.
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights ‘Report of the African Commission’s Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities: Research and Information Visit to Kenya, 1–19 March 2010′ (2012), p. 35.
10.
United Nations Human Rights Council ‘Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, Rodolfo Stavenhagen, Addendum: Mission to Kenya’ (2007b) UN Doc A/HRC/4/32/Add.3, [9].
11.
United Nations Commission on Human Rights (Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities) ‘Working Paper by the Chairperson-Rapporteur, Mrs. Erica-Irene A. Daes, on the concept of “indigenous peoples”’ (10 June 1996b) UN Doc E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.4/1996/2, [69].
12.
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights v Republic of Kenya, African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights Application No. 006/2012 (26 May 2017), para 109 and 110.
13.
United Nations ‘Charter of the United Nations’ (24 October 1945) 1 UNTS XVI, preamble.
14.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (adopted 16 December 1966, entered into force 23 March 1976) 999 UNTS 171; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (16 December 1966, entered into force 3 January 1976) 999 UNTS 3.
15.
United Nations Human Rights Committee ‘General Comment No. 12: Article 1 (Right to Self-determination), The Right to Self-Determination of Peoples’ in ‘General Comments and General Recommendations Adopted by Human Rights Treaty Bodies’ (13 March 1984) UN Doc HRI/GEN/1/Rev.6 (12 May 2003), p. 134.
16.
United Nations Commission on Human Rights (Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities) ‘Study of the Problem of Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations, Report of the Special Rapporteur of the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities’ (n 1), [381], [382].
17.
United Nations Commission on Human Rights (Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities) ‘Working Paper by the Chairperson-Rapporteur, Mrs. Erica-Irene A. Daes, on the concept of “indigenous peoples”’ (n 12), [35].
18.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 61/295 (2 October 2007) UN Doc A/RES/61295, Article 33(1).
19.
United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ‘General Recommendation VIII concerning the interpretation and application of article 1, paragraphs 1 and 4 of the Convention’ in ‘Compilation of General Comments and General Recommendations Adopted by Human Rights Treaty Bodies’ (2003) UN Doc HRI/GEN/1/Rev.6, p. 200.
20.
Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group International on behalf of Endorois Welfare Council v Kenya, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Application 276/2003 (4 February 2010), [162].
21.
ibid.
22.
United Nations Commission on Human Rights (Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities) ‘Report of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations on its fourteen session’ (16 August 1996b) E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.4/1996/21, [31].
23.
ibid, para 28.
24.
Thornberry (2002).
25.
United Nations Commission on Human Rights (Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities) ‘Report of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations on its fourteen session’ (n 23), [34].
26.
ibid.
27.
United Nations Commission on Human Rights (Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities) ‘Working Paper by the Chairperson-Rapporteur, Mrs. Erica-Irene A. Daes, on the concept of “indigenous peoples”’ (n 12), [74].
28.
See, for example, Thornberry’s four stands of indigeneity in Thornberry (2002), pp. 37–40.
29.
United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, ‘Factsheet: Who are indigenous peoples?’ (2006) <http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/5session_factsheet1.pdf> accessed 26 April 2017.
30.
Chagos Islanders v United Kingdom, European Court of Human Rights Application No. 35622/04 (11 December 2012).
31.
Allen (2014), p. 275.
32.
Cited in R (on the application of Bancoult) v Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (No. 1) [2000] EWHC 413 (Admin) [18].
33.
ibid; and R (on the application of Bancoult v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (No. 2) [2016] UKSC 35.
34.
Bancoult (No. 1) (n 33), [1].
35.
United Nations Human Rights Council ‘Expert mechanism on the rights of indigenous peoples’ (14 December 2007a) Resolution 6/36.
36.
United Nations Economic and Social Council ‘Study of the problem of discrimination against indigenous populations’ (7 May 1982) Resolution 1982/34, [1].
37.
United Nations Commission on Human Rights (Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights) ‘Report of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations on its seventeen session’ (12 August 1999) UN Doc E/CN.4/Sub.2/1999, [63].
38.
Human Rights Council ‘Final report of the study on indigenous peoples and the right to participate in decision-making: Report of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ (17 August 2011) UN Doc A/HRC/18/42.
39.
United Nations Economic and Social Council ‘Establishment of a Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues’ (28 July 2000) Resolution 2000/22, [2].
40.
United Nations Economic and Social Council ‘Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues – Report on the sixth session, 14–25 May 2007’ (2007) UN Doc E/C.19/2007/12, [2].
41.
ibid, [5].
42.
United Nations Commission on Human Rights ‘Human rights and indigenous issues’ (24 April 2001a) UN Doc E/CN.4/RES/2001/57, [1].
43.
United Nations Human Rights Council ‘Human rights and indigenous peoples: Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples’ (6 October 2010) Un Doc A/HRC/RES/15/14.
44.
United Nations General Assembly ‘Rights of indigenous peoples: Note by the Secretary General’ (29 July 2016) Un Doc A/71/229, [8], [14].
45.
ibid, [9].
46.
British Indian Ocean Territory, ‘Marine Protected Area’ <http://biot.gov.io/environment/marine-protected-area/> accessed 26 April 2017.
47.
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (adopted 21 December 1965, entered into force 4 January 1969) 660 UNTS 195.
48.
United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ‘General recommendation XXIII on the rights of indigenous peoples’ in ‘Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to the United Nations General Assembly’ (26 September 1997b) UN Doc A/52/18, [1].
49.
ibid, [5].
50.
United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ‘Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ (14 September 2011) Un Doc CERD/C/GBR/CO/18-20, [12].
51.
ibid.
52.
United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ‘Concluding observations of the combined twenty-first to twenty-third periodic reports of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ (3 October 2016) Un Doc CERD/C/GBR/CO/21-23, [40].
53.
ibid, [41].
54.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (n 15), Article 27.
55.
United Nations Human Rights Committee ‘General Comment 23 (Article 27)’ (26 April 1994) UN Doc CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.5, [7].
56.
United Nations Human Rights Committee ‘Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Overseas Territories of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ (6 December 2001) UN Doc CCPR/CO/73/UKOT, [38].
57.
ibid.
58.
United Nations Human Rights Committee ‘Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ (30 July 2008) UN Doc CCPR/C/GBR/CO/6, [22].
59.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (n 19).
60.
United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues ‘Statement of Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on the occasion of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ (New York, 61st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, 13 September 2007).
61.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (n 19), Preamble.
62.
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, ‘The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: A manual for national human rights institution’ (Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section Geneva 2010), p. 79.
63.
See, for example, United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ‘Concluding Observations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Argentina’ (2 December 2011) UN Doc E/C.12/ARG/CO/3, [25].
64.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (n 19), Article 1.
65.
ibid, Article 2.
66.
United Nations Human Rights Council ‘Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Summary of responses from the questionnaire seeking the views of States on best practices regarding possible appropriate measures and implementation strategies in order to attain the goals of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ (30 April 2012) UN Doc A/HRC/EMRIP/2012/4, [77].
67.
United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ‘General recommendation No. 32: The meaning and scope of special measures in the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’ (24 September 2009) UN Doc CERD/C/GC/32, [8].
68.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (n 19), Article 18.
69.
ibid, Article 19.
70.
See, for example, United Nations Human Rights Council ‘Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya: The situation of indigenous peoples in the Republic of the Congo’ (11 July 2011) UN Doc A/HRC/18/35/Add.5, [83].
71.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (n 19), Article 19, 32 and 46; See also United Nations Human Rights Council ‘Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, James Anaya’ (15 July 2009) UN Doc A/HRC/12/34, [46]–[53].
72.
UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ‘General Comment No. 21: Right of everyone to take part in cultural life (art. 15, para. 1(a), of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)’ (21 December 2009) UN Doc E/C.12/GC/21, [55(e)].
73.
ibid, [36].
74.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (n 19), Article 26.
75.
United Nations Economic and Social Council ‘Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues – Report on the sixth session (n 41), [5].
76.
United Nations Commission on Human Rights (Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights) ‘Prevention of discrimination and protection of indigenous peoples and minorities: Indigenous peoples and their relationship to land – Final working paper prepared by the Special Rapporteur, Mrs. Erica-Irene A. Daes’ (11 June 2001b) UN Doc E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/21, [34].
77.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (n 19), Article 10.
78.
ibid.
79.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (n 19), Article 27.
80.
ibid, Article 28.
81.
Countries that abstained: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Colombia, Georgia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Samoa and Ukraine. See United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, ‘Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples’ <http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/Pages/Declaration.aspx> accessed 26 April 2017.
82.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ‘Interpretive statement on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (13 September 2007) <http://www.fns.bc.ca/info/UNDeclaration/Stmnts%20Made%20by%20States%20Before%20and%20After%20the%20Vote/United%20Kingdom%20of%20Great%20Britain%20and%20Northern%20Ireland.pdf> accessed 26 April 2017.
83.
ibid.
84.
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights v Republic of Kenya (n 13) [128], [209].
85.
Aurelio Cal and Maya Village of Santa Cruz v Basilio Teul et al, the Attorney General of Belize, and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Defendants Supreme Court of Belize (18 October 2007), [131]–[134].
86.
International Labour Organisation Convention No. 169: Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (76th ILC session Geneva 27 June 1989) (‘ILO Convention No. 169’).
87.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ‘Normative Framework’ <http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/SRIndigenousPeoples/Pages/NormativeFramework.aspx> accessed 26 April 2017.
88.
International Labour Organisation Convention No. 169: Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (n 87), Articles 13 and 14.
89.
See International Labour Organisation ‘Handbook for ILO Tripartite Constituents: Understanding the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169)’ (International Labour Standards Department Geneva 2013), p. 21.
90.
ibid, 22.
91.
Mayan Communities in the District of Toledo v Belize Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Case 12.053 Report No. 40/4 (2004) [87].
92.
ibid, [117], [118].
93.
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ‘General comment No. 4: The right to adequate housing (art. 11(1) of the Covenant)’ (13 December 1991) UN Doc E/1992/23, annex III, [8], [18].
94.
See, for example, Doğan and others v Turkey, European Court of Human Rights Application No. 8803-8811/02, 8813/02 and 8815-8819/02 (2004).
95.
Allen (2014), p. 257.
96.
The Case of the Mayagna (Sumo) Awas Tingni Community v Nicaragua Inter-American Court of Human Rights Series C No 79 (31 August 2001).
97.
ibid, [153].
98.
ibid, [149].
99.
ibid, [151].
100.
American Convention on Human Rights, adopted by the Inter-American Specialized Conference on Human Rights (San José, Costa Rica, 22 November 1969).
101.
The Case of the Mayagna (Sumo) Awas Tingni Community v Nicaragua (n 97), [148].
102.
See also The Council of Europe ‘Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities’ (February 1995) H(95)10, Article 5(1) which states ‘The Parties undertake to promote the conditions necessary for persons belonging to national minorities to maintain and develop their culture, and to preserve the essential elements of their identity namely their religion, language, traditions and cultural heritage’.
103.
The Case of the Saramaka People v Suriname (Preliminary Objections, Merits, Reparations, and Costs) Inter-American Court of Human Rights (28 November 2007).
104.
ibid, [96].
105.
Amodu Tijani v. Southern Nigeria [1921] 2 AC 399, (PC).
106.
Calder et al. v. Attorney-General of British Columbia 34 D.L.R. (3d) 145 (1973).
107.
Mabo v. Queensland (1992) 175 CLR 1.
108.
Alexkor Ltd v Richtersveld Community CCT 19/03, (2003).
109.
The Case of the Moiwana Community v Suriname (Preliminary Objections, Merits, Reparations and Costs) Inter-American Court of Human Rights (15 June 2005), [131].
110.
The Case of the Saramaka People v Suriname (n 104), [96].
111.
Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group International on behalf of Endorois Welfare Council v Kenya (n 21).
112.
ibid, [173], [251].
113.
ibid, [196].
114.
African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (adopted 27 June 1981, entered into force 21 October 1986) (1982) 21 ILM 58.
115.
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights v Republic of Kenya (n 13). [123].
116.
Bancoult (No. 1) (n 33).
117.
United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ‘Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ (n 51), [12].
118.
ibid; United Nations Human Rights Committee ‘Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Overseas Territories of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ (n 57), [38]; United Nations Human Rights Committee ‘Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ (n 59), [22].
119.
United Nations Human Rights Committee ‘Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ (n 59), [22].
120.
f United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ‘Concluding observations of the combined twenty-first to twenty-third periodic reports of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ (n 53), [40].
121.
Chagos Islanders v United Kingdom (n 31).
122.
Raoof (2014), p. 5.
123.
ibid, 6.
124.
The Mauritian Government, for example, is of the view that the Chagossians are a minority of the Mauritian people, not an indigenous people.
125.
See discussion of this issue in Allen (2014), p. 276.
126.
The Case of the Moiwana Community v Suriname (Preliminary Objections, Merits, Reparations and Costs) (n 110), [132].
127.
ibid, [131].
128.
ibid, [133].
129.
Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group International on behalf of Endorois Welfare Council v Kenya (n 21), [267]; This issue was also considered in The Case of Yayke Axa Indigenous Community v Paraguay (Merits, Reparations and Costs) The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (17 June 2005), [144].
130.
ibid.
131.
ibid.
132.
ibid, [235].
133.
Minority Rights Group International ‘Submission to the 58th Session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ (2016), p. 6.
134.
See discussion of the Court of Appeal in R (on the application of Bancoult) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (No. 2) [2007] EWCA Civ 498) in Allen (2014), p. 280.
135.
R (on the application of Bancoult) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (No. 2) [2008] UKHL 61; [2008] 3 WLR 955.
136.
ibid, [169].
137.
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ‘General comment No. 4: The right to adequate housing (art. 11(1) of the Covenant)’ (n 94) [18].
138.
See, for example, Handyside v United Kingdom European Court of Human Rights Application No. 5493/72 (7 December 1976), [49]; X & Y v Argentina Inter-American Court of Human Rights Case 10. 506 Report No. 38/96 (1997), [60].
139.
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights v Republic of Kenya (n 13) [130].
140.
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ‘General comment No. 4: The right to adequate housing (art. 11(1) of the Covenant)’ (n 94) [4].
141.
Selçuk and Asker v Turkey European Court of Human Rights Application Nos. 12/1997/796/998-999 (24 April 1998).
142.
ibid, [78].
143.
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ‘General comment No. 4: The right to adequate housing (art. 11(1) of the Covenant)’ (n 94) [10].
144.
ibid.
145.
Minority Rights Group International ‘Submission to the 58th Session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ (n 134), 9.
146.
Minority Rights Group International ‘Submission to the 90th Session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ (2016), p. 12.
147.
ibid.
148.
United Nations General Assembly ‘Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law’ by United Nations General Assembly resolution 60/147 (16 December 2005), Principle IX.
149.
The Case of the Mayagna (Sumo) Awas Tingni Community v Nicaragua (n 97), [153].
150.
The Case of the Saramaka People v Suriname (n 104), [85].
151.
Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group International on behalf of Endorois Welfare Council v Kenya (n 21), [206].
152.
ibid.
153.
Huri – Laws v Nigeria African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Application 225/98 (2000), [52].
154.
The Case of the Saramaka People v Suriname (n 104), [560].
155.
Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group International on behalf of Endorois Welfare Council v Kenya (n 21), [196].
156.
ibid.
157.
United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ‘General recommendation No. 32: The meaning and scope of special measures in the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’ (n 68) [8].
158.
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (n 42), Article 1(4).
159.
Connors v United Kingdom European Court of Human Rights Application No. 66746/01 (2004).
160.
ibid.
161.
United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ‘General Recommendation No. 23: Indigenous Peoples’ (18 August 1997a) UN Doc A/52/18, annex V, [4].
162.
Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group International on behalf of Endorois Welfare Council v Kenya (n 21), [187].
163.
The Case of the Saramaka People v Suriname (n 104), [84].
164.
KPMG, Feasibility study for the resettlement of the British Indian Ocean Territory – Vol I (31 January 2015).
165.
Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group International on behalf of Endorois Welfare Council v Kenya (n 21), [567].
166.
The Case of the Saramaka People v Suriname (n 104), [201].
167.
United Nations General Assembly ‘Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law’ (21 March 2006) UN Doc A/RES/60/147, [18].
168.
See, for example, UN Human Rights Committee, Bozize v Central African Republic Communication No. 449/1990 (1994) UN Doc CCPR/C/50/D/428/1990; Mojica v Dominican Republic Communication No. 449/1991 (1994) UN Doc CCPR/C/51/D/449/1991; Griffin v Spain Communication No. 493/1992 (1995) Un Doc CCPR/C/53/D/493/1992.
169.
United Nations Human Rights Committee ‘Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Overseas Territories of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ (n 57), [38].
170.
President of Kenya, Taskforce on the Implementation of the Decision of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Contained in Communication No. 276/2003, Gazette No. 6708, 19 September 2014.
171.
See, for example, Canada’s statement to the 2016 Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues available at Government of Canada, ‘Speech delivered at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (10 May 2016) <http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1064009> accessed 27 April 2017.
172.
United Nations General Assembly ‘Outcome document of the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples’ (25 September 2014) UN Doc A/RES/69/2, [3].
173.
United Nations Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform, ‘Sustainable Development Goal 2’ <https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg2> accessed 26 April 2017.
174.
United Nations Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform, ‘Sustainable Development Goal 1’ <https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg1> accessed 26 April 2017.
175.
United Nations Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform, ‘Sustainable Development Goal 10’ <https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg10> accessed 26 April 2017.
176.
United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ‘General recommendation XXIII on the rights of indigenous peoples’ (n 49) [4(d)].
177.
See, for example, United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 9 of the Convention – Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: Costa Rica’ (4–22 March 2002) UN Doc CERD/C/60/CO/3, [13]; United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 9 of the Convention – Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: United States’ (2001) UN Doc CERD/A/56/18, [380]–[407]; United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties under Article 9 of the Convention – Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: Australia (2000) UN Doc CERD/C/304/Add.101, [9].
178.
United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, ‘Concluding Observations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Colombia’, (2001) UN Doc E/C.12/Add.1/74, [33].
179.
United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ‘Concluding Observations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Colombia’ (2001) UN Doc CERD/E/C.12/Add.1/74, para 33.
180.
United Nations Human Rights Committee, ‘Report by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, Rodolfo Stavenhagen: Mission to Kenya’ 26 February 2007) UN Doc A/HRC/4/32/Add.3, [66].
181.
United Nations Human Rights Council ‘Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, James Anaya’ (n 72), [47].
182.
US Government, ‘Statement of US Support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ (2012) <http://www.achp.gov/docs/US%20Support%20for%20Declaration%2012-10.pdf> accessed 28 June 2017.
183.
United Nations General Assembly ‘Outcome document of the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples’ (n 173), [3].
184.
Mary and Carrie Dann v United States, Inter-American Court of Human Rights Case 11.140 Report No. 75/02 (2002).
185.
The Case of the Saramaka People v Suriname (n 104), [134].
186.
ibid.
187.
Poma Poma v Peru, United Nations Human Rights Committee, Communication No. 1457/2006 (27 March 2009) UN Doc CCPR/C/95/D/1457/2006.
188.
ibid, [7.2].
189.
ibid, [7.6].
190.
Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group International on behalf of Endorois Welfare Council v Kenya (n 21), [129].
191.
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights v Republic of Kenya (n 13). [131], [210].
192.
For more detailed analysis see Minority Rights Group, ‘Comments Regarding the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework’ (16 September 2016) <http://minorityrights.org/advocacy-statements/comments-regarding-world-banks-environmental-social-framework/> accessed 26 April 2017.
193.
See World Bank, ‘OPCS Working Paper: Implementation of the World Bank’s Indigenous Peoples’ Policy: A learning review (FY 2006–2008)’ (OPCS Working Paper, August 2011), p. 2.

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Amy Schwebel

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Faculty of Law, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
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School of Law, Institute of Humanities, University of Worcester, Worcester, United Kingdom
Chris Monaghan

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Schwebel, A. (2018). International Law and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights: What Next for the Chagossians. In: Allen, S., Monaghan, C. (eds) Fifty Years of the British Indian Ocean Territory. The World of Small States, vol 4. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78541-7_13

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78541-7_13
Published: 31 May 2018
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