Indigenous People, Conflict and Extractive Industries: Latin American Approaches
Publisher: Evidence and Lessons from Latin America
Author(s): Evidence and Lessons from Latin America
Date: 2012
Topics: Dispute Resolution/Mediation, Extractive Resources
Countries: Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Panama
Exploration and exploitation activities have already advanced into remote, resource-rich lands inhabited by indigenous people across the southern hemisphere. Developing extractive projects in indigenous territory is especially challenging and frequently triggers social unrest and conflict. Drawing on Latin American experiences, this Brief outlines three successively implemented policy packages that have strengthened indigenous peoples’ cultural, territorial and consultation rights, recognising them as key stakeholders and partners in sustainable extractive development. In particular, this Brief discusses how the recognition of these rights has supported conflict management efforts, outlines the challenges that remain, and describes the broader social contexts that have framed these processes.