Self-determination
FPP works to realise forest peoples’ right to self-determination, a fundamental right of all peoples that underpins the work of the United Nations. That this right also applies to peoples within nation states is made explicitly clear in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in Articles 3 and 4.
What does the right to self-determination mean?
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in Articles 3 and 4 states:
Article 3
Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.
Article 4
Indigenous peoples, in exercising their right to self-determination, have the right to autonomy or self-government in matters relating to their internal and local affairs, as well as ways and means for financing their autonomous functions.
FPP’s work with forest peoples is guided by forest peoples themselves. The focus of this work is to:
- get the rights and interests of forest peoples recognised in policies and programmes
- support forest peoples to build their capacity to claim and exercise their human rights
- counter top-down policies and projects that affect forest peoples
- promote community-based, sustainable forest management
- coordinate NGO actions on forests in line with forest peoples’ visions
- link up indigenous and forest peoples’ movements at the regional and international level.
