A/HRC/33/27
19.
The office in Guatemala continued implementing the second phase of its Maya
Programme, which seeks to defend, through strategic litigation, the rights of indigenous
peoples to communal lands, to culturally appropriate health practices and to cultural and
intellectual property. A group of nine lawyers, as well as 30 students who provide
assistance in legal cases, have been trained on the rights of indigenous peoples through the
Maya Programme. Thirteen university professors also took part in the Programme and will,
as a result, include strategic litigation and the rights of indigenous peoples in their
university courses.
20.
The office in Guatemala carried out an analysis of Constitutional Court
jurisprudence related to the rights of indigenous peoples. The results of the analysis
demonstrated an increase in cases brought by indigenous peoples to the courts and in
favourable judgments issued since the start of the Maya Programme, especially regarding
land rights and the right to consultation. The judiciary of Guatemala has made headway in
the investigation of cases of grave human rights violations committed during the internal
armed conflict and in related prosecutions.
21.
During the reporting period, the Constitutional Court in Guatemala issued several
judgments related to the right of indigenous peoples to be consulted about initiatives that
affect their rights, including in relation to extractive and other development projects. In its
last two judgments related to mining projects, the Court suspended the licences of the
companies involved until a consultation process could be carried out with the affected
communities.
22.
In April 2016, Guatemala launched a national dialogue on justice reform, which was
carried out with technical support of the OHCHR office in Guatemala. As part of the
national dialogue, a series of regional dialogues have been held with the technical
assistance of OHCHR, to gather information on the views held by indigenous peoples,
members of civil society and others on the constitutional reform process.
23.
In November 2015, the OHCHR regional office for South-East Asia supported the
Department of National Parks of Thailand in the implementation of the human rights
recommendations of the World Heritage Committee regarding the designation of the
Kraeng Krachan Forest Complex as a World Heritage Site of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Upon request of the
Government, the regional office reviewed the draft national road map to implement the
UNESCO recommendations and provided the Government with comprehensive comments
on how to address the concerns of the indigenous community living in the Kraeng Krachan
Forest Complex.
E.
Land rights and food security
24.
Land rights and food security have been high on the agenda of the field offices in
Asia, Africa and the Americas. The office in Cambodia continued working with the
Ministry of Land Management, Urban Construction and Planning, local governments and
civil society organizations to support indigenous peoples’ efforts to apply for collective
land titles and to provide legal aid to communities that have suffered from land rights
violations.
25.
OHCHR provided support to several indigenous communities in the process of
obtaining collective land titles. Moreover, the office has collaborated with the Ministry of
Rural Development and the local authorities of Koh Kong Province on registering the
identity of eight indigenous communities of the Areng valley. Through several joint
missions to the area, OHCHR has assisted the Ministry and the subnational authorities in
developing procedures for the registration of an indigenous identity, facilitated the building
5
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents