Resources on Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)

Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is an international human rights standard that emerges from the right of indigenous peoples to self-determination, as well as to their land, territories and resources.

There are many good resources available on good faith consultations and FPIC written by individuals and institutions. As FPIC is one of the cross-cutting principles guiding the approach and work of Forest Peoples Programme in different locations, we have assembled a useful list of publications that provide guidance on the implementation of FPIC in different contexts and with a variety of stakeholders.

FPP does want to highlight that while we are pleased by the clear recognition and growing appreciation for the increased application of the right to FPIC, as well as the importance of indigenous communities developing their own protocols to participate in good faith consultation and FPIC processes, FPIC is but a safeguard to protect the underlying fundamental rights of indigenous peoples.

It is important that any research or activities that are conducted in relation to FPIC emphasise from the start that FPIC is not a substitute for ensuring that there are first and foremost vigorous measures in place to respect and recognise, among others: indigenous rights to own, use and control their ancestral lands, territories and resources; their rights to define their own development priorities, to self-governance, to the preservation and transmission of their culture, self-determination and other rights.

FPIC processes should be conducted consistently and in a manner that prioritises these measures, rather than seeking FPIC in their absence.

Resources

Publications in English:

Free, prior and informed consent: how to rectify the devastating consequences of harmful mining for indigenous peoples (2017) www.forestpeoples.org/sites/default/files/documents/1-s2.0-S167900731730004X-main.pdf

Liberia FPIC Training Materials: 'Communities in the Driving Seat' (2015) www.forestpeoples.org/en/topics/agribusiness/training/2016/liberia-fpic-training-materials-communities-driving-seat

Free, Prior and Informed Consent Guide for RSPO members (2015) www.forestpeoples.org/sites/default/files/publication/2016/01/rspo-free-prior-and-informed-consent-fpic-companies-2015-english.pdf

Indigenous People’s Free, Prior and Informed Consent (2015) aluminium-stewardship.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ASI-IPAF-Fact-Sheet-2-FPIC-2015.pdf

Respecting free, prior and informed consent. Practical guidance for governments, companies, NGO’s, indigenous peoples, local communities in relation to land acquisition (2014) www.fao.org/3/a-i3496e.pdf (Spanish, French and Arabic versions also available)

Training Manual for Indigenous Peoples on Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) (2014)

Strengthening Community Understanding on Free, Prior and Informed Consent. Trainer´s Manual (2014) resources.oxfam.org.au/pages/view.php (Vietnamese, Swahili, French, Tetum, Chinese and Portuguese versions also available)

UN-REDD Programme Guidelines on Free, Prior, Informed Consent (2013)

www.uncclearn.org/sites/default/files/inventory/un-redd05.pdf

Securing rights through commodity roundtables? A comparative review (2012) www.forestpeoples.org/sites/default/files/publication/2012/11/securing-rights-through-commodity-roundtables-comparative-review.pdf

Free, Prior and Informed Consent and the RSPO; Are the companies keeping their promises? Findings and recommendations from Southeast Asia and Africa (2012) www.forestpeoples.org/sites/default/files/publication/2012/10/rspofpic23oct12.pdf (also available in Bahasa Indonesia)

Tipping the Power Balance: Making Free, Prior and Informed Consent Work. Lessons and policy directions from 10 years of actions research on extractives with Indigenous and Afro-Descendant Peoples in the Americas (2011) www.nsi-ins.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2011-Tipping-the-Power-Balance-Making-Free-Prior-and-Informed-Consent-Work.pdf (Spanish version also available)

Free, Prior and Informed Consent in REDD+: Principles and Approaches for Policy and Project Development (2011) www.forestpeoples.org/sites/fpp/files/publication/2012/08/fpicinreddmanual127patrick-anderson.pdf (Nepali version also available)

Free, Prior and Informed Consent. Making FPIC work for forests and people (2010) www.forestpeoples.org/sites/default/files/publication/2010/10/tfdfpicresearchpapercolchesterhi-res2.pdf

Guide to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (2010) resources.oxfam.org.au/pages/view.php (Available in other 12 different languages)

Key Elements to the Initiation, Performance and Maintenance of Good Faith Consultations and Negotiations with Indigenous and Tribal Peoples and Communities (2008) www.forestpeoples.org/sites/default/files/publication/2010/10/fppkeyelementsgoodfaithdec08eng.pdf (Spanish version also available)

Making FPIC - Free, Prior and Informed Consent - Work: Challenges and Prospects for Indigenous People (2007) www.forestpeoples.org/sites/default/files/publication/2010/08/fpicsynthesisjun07eng.pdf (Bahasa Indonesia, Spanish and French versions also available)

Free, Prior and Informed Consent: Two Cases from Suriname (2007) www.forestpeoples.org/en/topics/extractive-industries/publication/2010/free-prior-and-informed-consent-two-cases-suriname (Spanish and Dutch versions also available)

In search of middle ground: Indigenous peoples, collective representation and the right to free, prior and informed consent (2004) www.forestpeoples.org/sites/default/files/publication/2010/08/fpicipsaug04eng.pdf (also available in Spanish)

Indigenous People’s Rights to Free, Prior and Informed Consent and the World Bank’s Extractive Industries Review (2004) www.forestpeoples.org/sites/default/files/publication/2010/10/eiripsfpicjun04eng.pdf (Spanish and French versions also available)

Documents exclusively published in Spanish:

Protocols for Prior Consultation Leading to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (2017) www.forestpeoples.org/en/economic-social-cultural-rights-civil-political-rights/report/2017/protocols-prior-consultation

Proceso de protocolo para un Proceso de Consulta y Consentimiento de los Pueblos Indígenas del Paraguay (2011) www.forestpeoples.org/sites/fpp/files/publication/2011/05/fapi-protocols-fpic.pdf

Documents exclusively published in French:

Les Peuples Autochtones et le Consentement Libre, Informé et Préalable (2013) www.forestpeoples.org/en/topics/human-rights-mechanisms/news/2013/05/press-release-fpp-and-partners-launch-pioneering-book-in