Indigenous rights and international law

This unit will examine the existing international law that promotes/protects human rights and freedoms of Indigenous peoples and locate this law within their culture and traditions, as well as within the international law context. The major international instruments that protect and promote the rights of Indigenous peoples will be evaluated. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and work in other UN fora will be discussed. Australia forms the basis of case study. Includes focus on legal and community definitions of Indigenous peoples, understanding the right of self-determination, collective as opposed to individual rights, anti-discrimination, land and resource rights, civil and political participation, rights of identity, language and education.