United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

PART 4: EDUCATION, MEDIA AND EMPLOYMENT

Article 14: Establishment of educational systems and access to culturally sensitive education

Indigenous peoples have the right to set up and manage their own schools and education systems. Indigenous individuals, particularly children, have the same right as everyone else to go to school and cannot be left out because they are indigenous. This means that governments must ensure that indigenous peoples – particularly children – living in, or outside of, their communities get the same benefit from the education system as others in ways that respect indigenous cultures, languages and rights.

Article 15: Accurate reflection of indigenous cultures in education

Indigenous peoples have the right to their cultures and traditions being correctly reflected in education and public information. Governments will work with indigenous peoples to educate non-indigenous peoples in ways that respect indigenous peoples’ rights and promote a harmonious society.

Article 16: Media

Indigenous peoples have the right to create their own media (i.e., radio, TV and newspapers) in their own language and to access non-indigenous media. Government-owned media has a duty to reflect indigenous cultural diversity. Governments will also encourage privately owned media to reflect indigenous cultural diversity.

Article 17: Employment

Indigenous individuals and peoples have the right to be treated fairly and not be discriminated against in all matters relating to work and employment. Indigenous children should be especially protected from work that harms them, and that is bad for their health and education. Governments will work together with indigenous peoples to protect children from this kind of mistreatment.

PART 5: PARTICIPATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Article 18: Participation in decision-making

Indigenous peoples have the right to take part in decision-making in all matters affecting them. This includes the rights of indigenous peoples to select who represents them and to have indigenous decision-making processes respected.

Article 19: Free, prior and informed consent for laws and policies

Governments must seek indigenous peoples’ views and opinions and work together with them through their chosen representatives in order to gain their free, prior and informed consent before laws are passed or policies or programs are put in place that will affect indigenous peoples.

Article 20: Subsistence and development

Indigenous peoples have the right to their own political, economic and social systems, and to follow their own traditional ways of growing food and other activities that help them in their daily living. They have the right to seek justice where this right is taken away.

Article 21: Economic and social well-being

Indigenous peoples have the right to improve their economic and social well-being, and governments will take action to help indigenous peoples do so, with particular attention to the rights of indigenous elders, women, youth, children and persons with disabilities.

Article 22: Indigenous elders, women, youth, children and persons with disabilities

Governments, with proper consultation with indigenous peoples, will ensure indigenous elders, women, youth, children and persons with disabilities have their rights respected. Governments will ensure that indigenous women and children are free from all forms of violence and discrimination.

Article 23: Priorities and strategies for development

Indigenous peoples have the right to set their own priorities and directions for development of their communities. Governments will support indigenous peoples to run their own organizations and services, and in deciding for themselves issues affecting their health, housing and other matters.

Article 24: Right to health

Indigenous peoples have the right to use traditional medicines and health practices that they find suitable. They have the right to access health care and social services (i.e., get prenatal care, go to the doctor or social worker or get help with food and housing) without discrimination. Indigenous individuals have the same right to health as everyone else, and governments will take the necessary steps to realize this right.