Indigenous Rights To Lands, Territories, And Resources In International Law: A Legal Analysis In The Context Of Environmental And Climate Crisis
- IJLLR Journal
- Aug 15
- 1 min read
Md. Lutfur Rahman, Research Scholar, Faculty of Legal Studies, South Asian University, New Delhi
ABSTRACT
This paper examines the nature, scope, and international legal protection of Indigenous peoples’ rights to their lands, territories, and resources (LTR), and explores the relationship between these rights and the global climate and environmental crisis. It first considers the underlying values of indigenous rights to LTR, grounding them in collective claims, cultural and spiritual connections to land and the principle of self-determination. It then analyses the recognition and protection of these rights within international law, with particular reference to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), ILO Convention No. 169, and relevant international soft law instruments. The paper further investigates how environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change affect the enjoyment of LTR rights, and how Indigenous stewardship contributes to environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
Keywords: Indigenous peoples, Rights to Lands, Territories, and Resources, International Law, Climate change
