Pitfalls and Pipelines - Philippine Indigenous Peoples Links

Chapter 2.8: Importance of Free, Prior and Informed Consent
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Conclusion
The future challenges for indigenous communities in deciding what
happens with the development of their land lies in the realm of
participation, understanding and recognition, based on the UN Declaration
of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Increasing indigenous participation in the Australian economy is a
significant challenge for all of us. Clearly industry can play a key role
in this regard—although we should not forget the rest of the private
sector—and Australia has come a long way in the last few years.
Indigenous peoples’ relationship with industry is a critical one and through
negotiations such as native title agreements, communities are beginning
to benefit from opportunities in employment, and in a lesser way, with
enterprise development.
And we need to grasp everything. We need economic development and
sustainability, but, critically, we also need to assure indigenous peoples
that their cultural identity is acknowledged and that indigenous cultural
sustainability is important for this nation. It is imperative that traditional
peoples have full recognition of their cultural rights on land, participate
fully and effectively in decision making and consultation processes, and
have free, prior and informed consent for all manner of projects.
Endnotes
1
J. Rumbiak, 2003, “Globalization, Rights and Poverty.” A speech
presented by Papuan human rights activist at Columbia University’s
Center for the Study of Human Rights on 23 October.
2
C. Doyle, 2008, “Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) – a universal
norm and framework for consultation and benefit-sharing in relation
to indigenous peoples and the extractive sector.” Prepared for the
OHCHR Workshop on Extractive Industries, Indigenous Peoples and
Human Rights, Moscow, 3 and 4 December (updated 2012). Much
of the material in this section is sourced from this excellent piece
of research. See also: First Peoples Worldwide, 2012, “Indigenous
Peoples Guidebook on Free, Prior, Informed Consent and Corporation
Standards.” Working Draft.
3
C. Doyle, 2008, “Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) – a universal
norm and framework for consultation and benefit-sharing in relation
to indigenous peoples and the extractive sector.” Prepared for the