Definition and Rights of Indigenous Peoples: The Case of Ethiopia
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2016-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
In the last three decades, indigenous peoples worldwide have been successful in bringing about legal
changes in favor of their human rights and specific situation. However, there are still controversies
regarding the definition of the subjects to whom these legal changes have been brought in favor of.
Despite the non-recognition of indigenous peoples as defined under international law, in Ethiopian
legislation, significant opportunities do exist for the protection of these peoples within existing legal
frameworks in the country. Although, in order to ensure that the rights of indigenous peoples are properly
enforced, having a clear idea of which groups are indigenous is increasingly important. A definition or
guidelines for definition gives all parties a common understanding of the objects of the instrument and the
application becomes safer and more predictable. This paper will reflect the need of flexibility and base
the analysis of definition of indigenous peoples on the criteria used in the definitions as well as give
impasses on specific rights given to indigenous peoples in Ethiopia. By developing a theoretical
framework based on the criteria for definition, the similarities in the definitions and guidelines for
definitions can be illustrated – without overlooking the separate context in which they operate. This will
hopefully contribute to developing “indigenous peoples” as a concept in international human rights law,
and disclose some of the misunderstandings and political objectives in discussions on definition in the
different instruments. A case study used on the indigenous people in Ethiopia, which was useful to
illustrate the findings in each chapter.
Description
Keywords
changes in favor of their human rights