UNSR James Anaya

LONDON. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Prof. James Anaya called upon human rights defenders and indigenous rights advocates to put additional effort into enhancing the capacities of the peoples affected by extractive industry operations in or around their traditional territories.

The Special Rapporteur made this statement as part of his keynote speech at the Conference "A Dangerous Business: The human cost of advocating against environmental degradation and land rights violations," organized by the NGO Peace Brigade International (PBI) at the Senate House University of London, on 31 October 2011. On occasion of his participation at the conference, the Special Rapporteur is holding informal meetings with United Kingdom Government representatives, Members of Parliament, and civil society organizations, with a view to collecting information and views on official policies and legislation concerning the impact of UK-based transnational companies on indigenous peoples around the world.

The Special Rapporteur's participation at the conference is part of his ongoing work concerning the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples in the context of extractive industry operations in or near their traditional territories, as signaled in his last report to the Human Rights Council.