Background Paper for Global Convening on Certification and associated Auditing Systems Impacting on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights

This paper was prepared for the Global Convening on Certification and associated Auditing Systems Impacting on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, which took place between 10-12 March in Jakarta, Indonesia. The aims of this convening were:

1. increased awareness/understanding by indigenous representatives of diverse certification schemes and associated processes of auditing/verification impacting Indigenous Peoples’ rights;
2. a shared understanding by indigenous representatives of weaknesses, risks and strengths associated with these schemes; and
3. reflections on steps that could be taken towards resolving these weaknesses and building on good practice where identified.

The initial purpose of this paper was to enable the participants of the convening to obtain an overview of the main certification schemes across a range of sectors; how the associated auditing/verification of compliance works; what problems have been documented and highlighted, particularly in relation to audit/verification processes; and what recommendations have already been promoted by Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and allied organisations for how to address these problems. Input on the contents of the tables describing each of the schemes in this section was sought from the scheme secretariats to help with factual accuracy and any errors are those of the authors.

After the Convening, the paper was updated with additional focus areas suggested by the Convening participants, some initial concluding considerations as well as with a summary of the recommendations coming out of the Convening – as reflected in the outcome Declaration developed by the 32 indigenous participants.

It is hoped that this paper, the Declaration and related actions which were identified at the Convening will contribute to the building of a movement of IPs and allies – beyond those who met in Jakarta – who share the analysis and support the recommendations. Jointly this movement can work towards improvements in auditing and verification practices that would
benefit IPs globally.