UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) 2007
Summary
UNGA adopted UNDRIP by 143 votes to 4 (Australia, Canada, NZ, USA — all later endorsed it). Affirms indigenous peoples' rights to self-determination (Art. 3), autonomy in internal affairs (Art. 4), maintenance of cultural identity (Art. 5), and free, prior and informed consent. UNDRIP is not strictly limited to 'indigenous peoples' in the strict anthropological sense and some scholars apply its norms by analogy to distinct peoples within post-colonial states.
Relevance to the diaspora
While UNDRIP's direct application to Sri Lankan Tamils is contested (they are not typically classified as 'indigenous' in the UN sense, though Veddas are), its articulation of self-determination, cultural rights, and land rights norms provides persuasive authority for Tamil rights claims before international bodies.
Key provisions
- Art. 3 — right to self-determination
- Art. 4 — right to autonomy or self-government in internal matters
- Art. 5 — right to maintain distinct institutions
- Art. 8 — right not to be subjected to forced assimilation
- Art. 10 — no forced removal from lands
- Art. 18 — right to participate in decision-making on matters affecting their rights
- Art. 19 — free, prior and informed consent requirement