Rights of indigenous peoples
A/RES/71/178
accordance with international law, including relevant human rights law and
international labour law obligations,
Bearing in mind also the importance of the empowerment and capacitybuilding of indigenous women and youth, including their full and effective
participation in decision-making processes in matters that affect them directly,
including policies, programmes and resources, where relevant, that target the well being of indigenous women and youth, in particular in the areas of health,
education, employment and the transmission of traditional knowl edge, languages
and practices, and the importance of taking measures to promote awareness and
understanding of their rights,
Recognizing the importance of access to justice in the promotion and
protection of the rights of indigenous peoples and individual s and the need to
examine and take steps to remove obstacles to justice, especially for indigenous
women, indigenous youth and indigenous persons with disabilities,
Underlining the responsibility of transnational corporations and other business
enterprises to respect all human rights, applicable laws and international principles 8
and operate transparently and in a socially and environmentally responsible manner,
and emphasizing the need to refrain from negatively affecting the well -being of
indigenous peoples and to take further action towards corporate responsibility and
accountability, including the prevention, mitigation and remediation of human rights
abuses,
Recognizing the value and the diversity of the cultures and the form of social
organization of indigenous peoples and their holistic traditional knowledge of their
lands, natural resources and environment,
Recognizing also the importance of traditional sustainable agricultural
practices, including traditional seed supply systems, as well as access to credit and
other financial services, markets, secure land tenure, health care, social services,
education, training, knowledge and appropriate and affordable technologie s,
including efficient irrigation, the reuse of treated wastewater and water harvesting
and storage for indigenous peoples and others living in rural areas,
Recognizing further the importance of facilitating indigenous peoples’
livelihoods, which may be achieved by, inter alia, the recognition of their traditions,
adequate public policies and economic empowerment,
Recognizing that the economic empowerment, inclusion and development of
indigenous peoples, including through the establishment of indigenous -owned
businesses, can enable them to improve their social, cultural, civil and political
engagement, achieve greater economic independence and build more sustainable
and resilient communities, and noting the contribution of indigenous peoples to the
broader economy,
Concerned about the extreme disadvantages that indigenous peoples have
typically faced across a range of social and economic indicators and about the
impediments to their full enjoyment of their rights,
Stressing the need to pay particular attention to the rights and special needs of
indigenous women, children, youth, older persons and persons with disabilities, as
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Including the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations
“Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework (A/HRC/17/31, annex).
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