Indigenous Peoples have a wealth of cultural and idiomatic traditions. In spite of this, the original inhabitants of the continent have become one of the most vulnerable groups in the countries of the region.
In spite of the passage of national legal standards and important international norms that recognize the rights of indigenous peoples, full respect for these rights still does not exist. As a result of this, the indigenous population continues to exist in a situation of extreme vulnerability, which is aggravated by the serious linguistic, cultural, and economic barriers they face in accessing official justice systems.
DPLF believes that respect for the entire population of the hemisphere is fundamental, and pays special attention to the situation of indigenous Peoples in its work. We study the content and scope of land, territory, and natural resource rights, in particular the right to prior consultation and prior, free and informed consent. In the same vein, we promote a regional dialogue on best practices regarding how to accomplish the full respect for indigenous justice in the region and we monitor the impact of the new criminal justice procedural systems on indigenous Peoples.
Access our publications on Rights of Indigenous Peoples.