The Government needs to approach the indigenous people opposed to IKN, to find a mutually-acceptable solution. “The problem is that nobody understands that these indigenous peoples guard the world’s biodiversity.
They play a key role in protecting the earth, including forests and biodiversity, as those who depend on natural resources ensure the resources’ sustainability in the future. They are the one who fight against deforestation, the greed for minerals, oil or gas extraction in their homeland.
They also stand against land exploitation for plantations and massive production and consumption, by educating the people with traditional knowledge, reciprocating with nature, effective land management of women’s and men’s customary lands and territories,” Nukila explained.
Therefore, business people and the government need to protect the rights of the indigenous peoples when engaged in business affecting them. The negative effect of development that ignores indigenous peoples will only result in discrimination and the violation of civil and political rights.
The government needs to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Human Rights as the world’s guidelines for all countries, which include the state’s obligation to protect indigenous peoples from business-related human rights violations and the corporate responsibility to respect human rights. If violations occur, the state ensures that indigenous peoples will be adequately compensated.
The government, businesses and companies must apply free, prior and informed consent in developing the IKN. The FPIC (free, prior and informed consent) is the right of indigenous peoples to make informed decisions about matters affecting their communities, traditions and ways of life.
The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), recognizes the rights of the Indigenous peoples as free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC). It consists of 46 articles on collective and individual rights.
The state and government are responsible for protecting and upholding these rights to maintain the survival, dignity and well-being of indigenous peoples. UNDRIP aims to break down barriers, eradicate systemic racism and discrimination, address socio-economic disparities, and promote greater equality and prosperity for indigenous peoples.
Government officials and businesspeople frequently overlook human rights. The government and private sector must consistently engage in dialogue and consultation with indigenous peoples and must guarantee the participation of all indigenous peoples’ concerns, as they must consider whether a project will affect their lives and territories.
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Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) is a special right of Indigenous Peoples recognized by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which is in line with their universal right to self-determination. FPIC allows Indigenous Peoples to give, withhold and withdraw consent to projects affecting their territories at any time. FPIC also allows Indigenous Peoples to be involved in negotiations to shape the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of projects.
Nukila also pleads for a Human Rights Assessment (HRA) study to analyze whether the IKN construction meets human rights standards and involves indigenous peoples. Such a study would be fundamental to minimizing the risks faced by indigenous peoples. The IKN is expected to set an example of learning for a prospective and responsive capital city, one championing human rights. (des)
