Indigenous Rights and United Nations Standards
Self-Determination, Culture and Land

This book explores the extent to which indigenous claims can be accommodated by international law.

Alexandra Xanthaki (Author)

9780521172899, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 25 November 2010

360 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.53 kg

Review of the hardback: '… an impressively researched, well written textbook-like book on indigenous peoples' rights and United Nations' standards that is also an immensely valuable teaching tool.' Human Rights Law Review

The debate on indigenous rights has revealed some serious difficulties for current international law, posed mainly by different understandings of important concepts. This book explores the extent to which indigenous claims, as recorded in the United Nations forums, can be accommodated by international law. By doing so, it also highlights how the indigenous debate has stretched the contours and ultimately evolved international human rights standards. The book first reflects on the international law responses to the theoretical arguments on cultural membership. After a comprehensive analysis of the existing instruments on indigenous rights, the discussion turns to self-determination. Different views are assessed and a fresh perspective on the right to self-determination is outlined. Ultimately, the author refuses to shy away from difficult questions and challenging issues and offers a comprehensive discussion of indigenous rights and their contribution to international law.

Introduction
1. Recognition of cultural membership
2. United Nations instruments on indigenous peoples
3. Emerging law: the United Nations draft declaration on indigenous peoples
4. Do indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination?
5. Indigenous cultural rights
6. Indigenous land rights
Conclusions.

Subject Areas: Public international law [LBB], United Nations & UN agencies [JPSN1], International relations [JPS], Political science & theory [JPA]