What is most widely implied in the term self-determination is the right to participate in the democratic process of governance and to influence one’s future – politically, socially and culturally.

Self-determination embodies the right for all peoples to determine their own economic, social and cultural development. Self-determination has thus been defined by the International Court of Justice (in the West-Saharan case) as the need to pay regard to the freely expressed will of peoples.

It is important to stress that for indigenous peoples the term selfdetermination does most often NOT imply secession from the state.

The right to self-determination

The right of self-determination of peoples is a fundamental principle in international law. It is embodied in the Charter of the United Nations and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Common Article 1, paragraph 1 of these Covenants provides that:

“All peoples have the rights of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.”

The right of self-determination has also been recognized in other international and regional human rights instruments such as Part VII of the Helsinki Final Act 1975 and Article 20 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights as well as the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Territories and Peoples. It has been endorsed by the International Court of Justice. Furthermore, the scope and content of the right of self- determination has been elaborated upon by the United Nations Human Rights Committee and Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination as well as international jurists and human rights experts.

To read more about Self-determination click on one or more of the links below (PDF and Word documents).

• Self Determination – Indigenous Affairs Theme Issue (pdf)
• Self-determination and the nation state – Baguio Declaration
• Implementation of the Right of Self-Determination of Indigenous Peoples within the Framework of Human Security, by John Henriksen
• Indigenous Peoples Self-determination and the Nation State in Asia, by the Cordillera Peoples Alliance
• Definition and delimitation of the indigenous peoples of Asia, by Tapan Bose

http://www.iwgia.org/human-rights/self-determination