WHO WE ARE
Incomindios UK is the British Chapter of the International Committee for the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, which was founded in Switzerland in 1974 at the suggestion of the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC).
As a human rights organisation, Incomindios UK advocates for the rights of Indigenous Peoples worldwide - with a special focus on North, Central and South America and for the development in awareness of these issues within the United Kingdom.
WHAT WE DO
Inform
We inform the British public about the living conditions and human rights violations in Indigenous communities through our social media, events, campaigns and our IHREN educational work in schools. We address political and economic actors with statements and advocate for Indigenous human rights defenders in their resistance against land and resource exploitation.
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Network
We are present at the UN and facilitate the participation of Indigenous delegates in the deliberations of UN institutions (e.g. UN Human Rights Council or UN Committee against Racial Discrimination CERD). We support Indigenous youth in their role as future political leaders and organise events in the international context to raise awareness of Indigenous issues.
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Support
We support Indigenous individuals through scholarship programmes and by providing them with a platform which elevates the reach of their work. We provide both financial and non-financial support for a host of grassroot Indigenous organisations, aiding them in specialised and unique ways which fit their manner of operating.
WHAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO
Enforcement of Indigenous rights
In 2007, after a 25-year process, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The Declaration grants Indigenous Peoples comprehensive fundamental rights as a collective and as individuals. However, a declaration is not a binding agreement but an important foundation for implementing and further developing Indigenous rights. Since its foundation, Incomindios UK has supported the participation of Indigenous Peoples in the UN and advocates for the creation of national and international protective legal legislation. Indigenous Peoples should thus be able to protect themselves against abuses and live a self-determined life.
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Protection of the environment and natural resources
The consequences of climate change and environmental damage caused by resource extraction on indigenous territories threaten all people's livelihoods and health. We support Indigenous communities in their resistance to this destruction and demand that all decisions affecting Indigenous territory be made according to the UN principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of the affected communities. We demand that governments and corporations treat Indigenous Peoples as equals and that consumers take responsibility for the environment and human rights.
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Promoting Indigenous culture and education
Indigenous communities hold an enormously valuable diversity of languages and knowledge. Much of this has been lost or is still under serious threat due to the colonial policies of the states in which the peoples live. We advocate for Indigenous Peoples' cultural self-determination and support initiatives to promote traditional education and the transmission of knowledge to future generations.