Indian Law Resource Center

Programs: General program provided legal and advocacy assistance without charge to indian nations and indigenous communities that are working to protect their lands, environments, cultures, and other human rights. This included advice on using international human rights law and mechanisms, assisting with communications efforts and campaigns to bring attention to indigenous human rights violations, providing information to and serving as an expert resource for media, law schools and educational programs.

american declaration promoted and raised awareness of the new american declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples adopted by the organization of american states in june, 2016. Succeeded in getting the oas to adopt a plan of action outlining specific measures the oas and member countries will take to implement the new declaration and enhance respect for indigenous rights. We held workshops and distributed educational materials to help indian leaders and indigenous advocates understand how they can use the american declaration to address human rights threats and violations. Our outreach included 11 workshops in guatemala, argentina, brazil, guyana and the united states; in total, roughly 800 people participated in one of our trainings.

un and human rights advocacy helped indian nations advocate in the united nations, including urging the un to establish a process that would allow indigenous governments to participate in un discussions and influence decision-making. We advised and supported indian and other indigenous leaders in developing and voicing their recommendations and proposals in the un human rights council, with the office of the high commissioner for human rights, and with the un secretary-general's office.