Indigenous peoples face many questions and challenges when confronted with mining activities in their communities. What are extractive industries and mining? What laws govern mining in their country? What are the requirements and obligations of companies engaged in mining? What happens in the process of mining and what are its social, environmental and economic impacts? What are the rights of indigenous peoples in relation to extractive industries? What legal instruments can be used to assert these rights? What is free prior and informed consent (FPIC)? What steps should be taken in obtaining FPIC? How can indigenous communities engage and participate ...

Joint Statement to the 18th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on “Conservation and Rights of Indigenous Peoples” Under Agenda Item 11: Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Chair of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples By Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact and Asia Indigenous Peoples Caucus Thank you, Madam Chair. We, indigenous peoples in Asia, through our customary laws and sustainable conservation practices have been conserving our forests, rivers, seas, and mountains, among others, for millennia. For example, in Malaysia, indigenous peoples practice a traditional ‘Tagal’ system to ...

Regional consultation for the Asia and Pacific region on draft guidelines on the effective implementation of the right to participate in public affairs Bangkok, Thailand 2-3 October 2017 Indigenous peoples in Asia and their rights to participate in public affairs Presented by: Patricia Miranda Wattimena Advocacy Coordinator, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact Background Indigenous peoples constitute about 5% of the world’s population with an estimated number of 370 million. However, they account for 15% of the poorest rural people. Asia region is home for around 70% of the indigenous peoples worldwide. Indigenous peoples are known by different names – such as ...

Asia is the largest of the world’s continents, covering approximately 1/3 of the Earth’s land area. It is the world’s most populous continent, with roughly 60% of the world’s total population, and the most demographically diverse. “Asia’s natural resources are among the richest and most diverse in the planet. The region holds 20% of the world’s biodiversity, 14% of the world’s tropical forests, and 34% of global coral resources, including the greatest number of marine species in the world. Asia’s natural ecosystems and biodiversity provide numerous social and economic benefits, providing local livelihoods, supporting food, water and energy security, and ...