Study of the expert mechanism on the rights of indigenous peoples

Lessons learned and challenges to achieve the implementation of the rights of indigenous peoples to education

• Human Rights Council

Read the full text

09 November 2009Indigenous peoples have historically been among the poorest and most excluded and disadvantaged sector of society. A major factor contributing to the disadvantaged position of indigenous peoples is the lack of quality education - which may be defined as education that is well resourced, culturally sensitive, respectful of heritage and that takes into account history, cultural security and integrity, encompasses human rights, community and individual development, and is designed in a way that is implementable - depriving millions of indigenous children of the basic human right to education. 

International human rights law recognizes the right to education as a basic human right for everyone. When elaborating on the right to education of indigenous peoples, it is necessary to take into account two categories of human rights provisions: (a) general human rights provisions acknowledging and defining the content of the individual right to education; and (b) international standards specifically recognizing indigenous peoples’ rights, including the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.