Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations. The course covers the influential international initiatives launched by indigenous peoples in the pursuit of dignity and equality when being denied their fundamental freedoms by corporations and countries in their homelands. Indigenous peoples have pursued a global strategy based on common challenges fared in own communities while defending their sacred grounds. A historical analysis will review the development in international human rights law relating to indigenous peoples from the United Nations charter and treaty bodies. Participants will learn about the early advocacy efforts to engage at the League of Nations and the International Labor Organization as well as the recent instruments advanced at the United Nations to promote and protect the human rights of indigenous peoples. The course addresses the three core institutions created through indigenous initiatives in the global arena -- the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. There will also be a review of the drafting of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the current campaigns toward implementation since its adoption at the UN General Assembly in September 2007. The course will conclude with recent developments including the UN World Conference on Indigenous Peoples and the process from the regional meetings resulting in the Alta Outcome Document with its four themes to the ultimate adoption of the Outcome Document of the High Level Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly. The course addresses the agenda of the annual meeting of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples discussing its membership as well as methods to promote and protect human rights of indigenous peoples. A detailed analysis of the studies completed by the UN EMRIP to realize the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will be at the core of the course. The future of the indigenous institutions at the UN will complete the course assessing the potential opportunity for an Optional Protocol as well as reform of EMRIP to implement the articles of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. A highlight is the opportunity to study the specific situation of indigenous peoples in the seven indigenous regions of the world that participate in the annual EMRIP session as well as noting the advances gained through global advocacy.The intensive, in-depth, interactive instruction includes attendance at the actual United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples annual session allowing participants to observe the daily workings and also organize opportunities to directly interact with indigenous peoples, the UN Office of the HIgh Commissioner for Human Rights, UN member states diplomatic corp and NGO decision-makers. A significant element of the course will be engagement at the multiple side events sponsored by indigenous peoples covering the core issues relevant to the realization of indigenous rights. There will be an opportunity for research at the UN Legal and Political Reading Room Library as well as the Indigenous Peoples Center for Documentation, Research and Information. Participants will be able to study directly with scholars conducting creative advocacy at the United Nations and be able to assist on the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples agenda items.



Course leader
University Post-Graduate Professional Joshua Cooper, University of Hawai'i Political Science Department

Target group
activists, academics, advocates

Course aim
The course covers the influential international initiatives launched by indigenous peoples in the pursuit of dignity and equality when being denied their fundamental freedoms by corporations and countries in their homelands. Indigenous peoples have pursued a global strategy based on common challenges fared in own communities while defending their sacred grounds. The course will conclude with recent developments including the UN World Conference on Indigenous Peoples and the process from the regional meetings resulting in the Alta Outcome Document with its four themes to the ultimate adoption of the Outcome Document of the High Level Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly. The intensive, in-depth, interactive instruction includes attendance at the actual United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples annual session.

Credits info
3 ECTS Participants will receive a certificate of participation at the end of the summer school and all necessary documentation to validate the course at their home university.

Fee info
EUR 450: Reduced participation fee for students.Early registration bonus of 100 until the 31st of December.Later registration bonus of 50 until the 31st of January.Group discount of 100 (at least 4 participants).

INNES
Address: Favoritenstr. 4-6
Postal code: 1040
City: Vienna
Country: Austria
Website: http://www.innesvienna.net
E-mail: summersession@innesviena.net
Phone: 436802349265