Full Coverage: Indigenous rights

17.07.2008 A secret document accidentally posted on the Internet reveals plans to build a series of massive hydroelectric dams in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, submerging the homes of at least 1,000 Penan, Kelabit and Kenyah tribal people.

20.05.2008 This is Our Country Too is a hard-hitting investigation into Australia’s woeful treatment of its indigenous peoples, and a rare depiction of their unrelenting struggle for justice, equality and self-determination.

06.05.2008 UNITED NATIONS, May 5 (OneWorld) - The United Nations is facing scathing criticism from the world's indigenous communities for its attempts to promote carbon trading as a tool to address climate change concerns.

02.05.2008 UNITED NATIONS, May 1 (OneWorld) - The Canadian government has drawn fierce condemnation from the world's indigenous communities for its refusal to sign an international document that recognizes native people's right to self-determination.

28.04.2008 Nepal Maoists owe their impressive performance in the recently held elections to the support of the marginalised communities. It is now up to the former rebels to prove themselves and come up to the expectations of these people whose interests have long been ignored in the past.

24.04.2008 Seven villages belonging to the 'Jumma' tribal were burned to the ground on Sunday by Bengali settlers, with the support of the Bangladesh army, in violence apparently arising from a controversial resettlement programme.

18.04.2008 ASUNCION, Apr 17 (IPS) - An indigenous woman has an excellent chance of winning a seat in Congress for the first time in the history of Paraguay, in Sunday's general elections.

08.04.2008 Hundreds of Cogolese villagers - mostly hunter-gatherers or subsistence farmers - will use high-tech GPS (Global Positioning System) devices to produce digital maps to prove their existence to the government and to loggers.

08.04.2008 Often marginalised from the political power, minorities all over the world have little or no voice in decision-making. State of the World’s Minorities 2008, a flagship publication of Minority Rights Group provides a comprehensive account of the impact of climate change on the minorities and indigenous people and highlights some opportunities for change.

31.03.2008 A state level tribal women leader’s summit was organised by Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD) at Bhubanewar, Orissa in eastern India. Several women tribal leaders and stakeholders representing government and civil society emphasised the need to empower tribal women with decision-making and elevate their social status.

27.03.2008 NEW YORK, Mar 27 (OneWorld) - There will likely be fewer wildfires and more trees for future generations if loggers abide by a set of international rules on forest management, says a new study by independent environmentalists.

24.03.2008 Concerned citizens in India feel that many will not be able to claim their rights in the tribal dominated Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, if a forest rights related Act is implemented under present circumstances. Violence perpetrated by Maoist and Salwa Judum activists have forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.

17.03.2008 In southern India, Kanavu is a dream school for Wayanad’s tribal children. Started by a writer-turned activist 15 years ago with an idea of tapping the hidden genius of the community, it is now run by the first batch of its students.

25.02.2008 Fears are being expressed that Nepal can face a serious humanitarian crisis. Ethnic Madhesis – who suffer from extreme poverty, unemployment and lack of citizenship – are on an indefinite strike since February 12 demanding a separate region for themselves. Essential services remain disrupted and the situation can only worsen from here.

22.02.2008

12.02.2008 NEW YORK, Feb 12 (OneWorld) - Some of the nation's top jewelers declared Tuesday they were ready to dump gold miners who abuse indigenous communities and their environment.

22.01.2008 Sep. 13, 2007 will forever be remembered as the day the world reconciled with its past painful histories regarding indigenous people.

31.12.2007 Thousands of Ranchis held a mass rally at Port Blair to demand their tribal identity and rights. Currently 13% of the Andaman and Nicobar population, these tribes were first brought to the islands as labourers to clear jungles for settlements.

12.12.2007 For the Tharu, a group of people native to southwestern Nepal, freedom from years of bonded labor initially meant being kicked out into a completely foreign society, forming small communities on marginal land, and falling deeper into poverty. Now, youth programs that promote education are empowering the Tharu's younger generations to repair the injustices and indignities of the preceding generations.

11.12.2007 Global initiatives to reduce carbon emissions are bound to fail if the interests of indigenous communities are not taken into account, leaders of the world's 370 million indigenous peoples are warning.