Traditional Knowledge Bulletin |
- Meeting prep: Information Sharing Event on the Nagoya Protocol and Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples' Issues
- This week in review … Internship position available at the PFII Secretariat
- Resource: Article on indigenous peoples' rights under international law
- Meeting review: First Africa Land Forum
- Resource: Report on recognizing sacred natural sites and territories in Kenya
- This week in review … Vanuatu's TK in use for climate forecasting and adaptation
- Resource: Report on indigenous peoples and adaptation in Asia
- Resource: Book on African ethnobotany in the Americas
Meeting prep: Information Sharing Event on the Nagoya Protocol and Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples' Issues Posted: 21 Nov 2012 04:15 AM PST Information Sharing Event on the Nagoya Protocol on ABS Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples' Issues The 2012 annual meeting of the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples' Issues (IASG) will address, among other items, the Group's responses to current and previous recommendations of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to the Group and the UN system; opportunities for inter-agency collaboration and possible strategic directions; and implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including through the UN Development Group and its guidelines on programming at the country level on indigenous issues. The meeting will be preceded by an information-sharing event on the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing, which will examine the Protocol's main provisions, with a focus on those of particular relevance to indigenous and local communities, and the role of indigenous and local communities in the Protocol's implementation. Visit the IASG meeting webpage … Visit the ABS event webpage … |
This week in review … Internship position available at the PFII Secretariat Posted: 21 Nov 2012 04:13 AM PST Internship available at the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK: An internship position (JO #25905) is available at the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Applications should be sent via the UN recruitment system and a copy also sent to bernardi (at) un.org. The deadline for applications is 29 November 2012. Further information … |
Resource: Article on indigenous peoples' rights under international law Posted: 21 Nov 2012 04:11 AM PST The Unique Rights of Indigenous Peoples In this article, Dinah Shelton, Professor of International Law at the George Washington University and member of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, examines attempts to safeguard indigenous peoples' rights in international law through international instruments; the jurisprudence of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights; and the Inter-American Commission and Court on Human Rights. The article starts by recognizing that application of individual human rights through equal treatment ignores the very real differences between indigenous peoples and other minorities: these groups had pre-existing sovereignty and signed treaties to govern their relations with the outside world, but are no longer recognized as independent. In the international sphere, relevant ILO Conventions and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples are examined. In the African context, the author comments on the Endorois case and the 2006 Botswana case of Sesana and Others v. Attorney General, High Court. Noting that case-law from different regions, although not binding, can be called upon as an aid in interpreting rights, she stresses that the Inter-American system provides an important point of reference, starting from the 1985 case of Yanomami v. Brazil to more recent jurisprudence on land rights and the right to property, such as the case of Awas Tingni Mayagna (Sumo) Indigenous Community v. Nicaragua and the Yakye Axa v. Paraguay case. The article is part of a free online educational course entitled "International Law and Africa." Read the article … Further information about the course, including links to additional articles … |
Meeting review: First Africa Land Forum Posted: 21 Nov 2012 04:08 AM PST First Africa Land Forum Convened under the theme "Securing the land rights of indigenous people and rural communities," the first Africa Land Forum was organized by the Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association of Cameroon and the International Land Coalition Africa. At the end of the forum, participants unanimously approved the Yaoundé Declaration, which identifies emerging issues and challenges on land issues and details eight recommendations focused on African governments, in particular the government of Cameroon, addressing: sustainable and equitable land governance; legal recognition and protection of land rights of all land users; wide participation in decision-making over land; end of discrimination of women and minorities; use of widely adopted guidelines for food land governance; priority to food security and rural development; benefits and compensation for affected communities; and establishment of fair and accessible land conflict resolution mechanisms. The Yaoundé Declaration highlights both the Africa Land Policy Framework and the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security, and calls on governments to reform of national land processes to adhere to them. Read the press release on the conclusion of the Forum … Read the Yaoundé Declaration … |
Resource: Report on recognizing sacred natural sites and territories in Kenya Posted: 21 Nov 2012 04:07 AM PST Recognising Sacred Natural Sites and Territories in Kenya: An analysis of how the Kenyan Constitution, national and international laws can support the recognition of sacred natural sites and their community governance systems This report contains an introduction on sacred natural sites and their custodian communities at the international level and in Kenya; provides an overview and analysis of the Kenyan legal and policy framework of relevance; and examines existing and emerging regional and international law and customary laws and practices in African and other countries. It concludes by making a number of recommendations for communities, civil society and government to strengthen the recognition of, and support for, local custodians of sacred natural sites and their customary governance systems. Download the report [pdf] … Read the Gaia Foundation press release … |
This week in review … Vanuatu's TK in use for climate forecasting and adaptation Posted: 21 Nov 2012 04:05 AM PST Vanuatu's Traditional Knowledge in Use for Climate Forecasting and Adaptation PORT VILA, VANUATU: The government of Vanuatu is developing a national approach to using traditional knowledge for improved climate seasonal forecasting and adaptation to climate change. The approach involves hybridizing seasonal forecasting based on meteorological science with long term seasonal forecasting based on traditional observations of local animal behavior, plant flowering and fruiting, and cloud and sky indicators. Members of government departments and the Vanuatu Cultural Center met with traditional Tanna weathermen, who showed the government team their own methods for forecasting, specifically how they use local signs and indicators to foretell a coming dry season, intense cyclone or prolonged rainy period. In all, over 100 traditional indicators of weather and climate were documented by the field team and will be used in a first trial of a hybrid forecasting system. Read the press release … |
Resource: Report on indigenous peoples and adaptation in Asia Posted: 21 Nov 2012 04:02 AM PST Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change Adaptation in Asia This report examines a series of issues related to indigenous peoples and climate change adaptation, including livelihoods and well-being, indigenous knowledge, access to resources, and engagement in adaptation policies and strategies. It includes two case studies on indigenous adaptation practices and measures: the adaptation practices among the Tangkhul Naga Community in the North Eastern Region of India, and the traditional adaptation practices of Pidlisan-Kankanaeys of Sagada, Mountain Province and Ikalahan-Kalanguya of Caraballo Mountains, Cagayan Valley of the Philippines. It provides an overview of relevant deliberations under the UNFCCC and the CBD, and concludes by making policy recommendations on indigenous peoples and climate change adaptation. Download the report [pdf] … |
Resource: Book on African ethnobotany in the Americas Posted: 21 Nov 2012 04:00 AM PST African Ethnobotany in the Americas This book provides a comprehensive examination of ethnobotanical knowledge and skills among the African Diaspora in the Americas. With the aid of archival and field research carried out in North America, South America and the Caribbean, contributors explore, among other issues, the historical, environmental and political-ecological factors that facilitated or hindered transatlantic ethnobotanical diffusion; the significance of cultural resistance in refining and redefining plant-based traditions; the principal categories of plant use that resulted; the exchange of knowledge among Amerindian, European and other African peoples; and the changing significance of African-American ethnobotanical traditions in the 21st century. Further information … |
. | Email delivery powered by Google |
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment