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Picture showing the cover of the report: Respecting the rights of indigenous peoples: a due diligence checklist for companies

Respecting the rights of indigenous peoples: a due diligence checklist for companies

Operational guidance on how to ensure due diligence when operating in areas where their projects may affect indigenous peoples.

Based on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and ILO Convention No. 169, this Checklist aligns the principles and rights in these two instruments with the human rights due diligence approach set out in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) provide that the due diligence process by business should include the following steps:

  1. Assessment of human rights impacts (actual and potential);
  2. Integration of findings from impact assessments into relevant internal processes;
  3. Monitoring performance and responses to ensure any impacts are being effectively addressed; and
  4. External reporting and communication on such responses.

This Checklist focuses on the first and third of these four steps. Due diligence is an ongoing process, rather than a single event, and active engagement must continue for the duration of the project.

The Checklist has been developed under the Indigenous Navigator initiative. It complements a broader set of tools and resources to monitor and assess the implementation of indigenous peoples’ rights, known as the Indigenous Navigator.

The Indigenous Navigator tools include a comprehensive set of indicators for monitoring indigenous peoples’ rights, categorized into thirteen different domains (themes), many of which are directly relevant for companies operating in areas with indigenous peoples.

Further, the content has been informed by the work of our Corporate Engagement team in collaborating with corporate partners as well as the development of the Human Rights Indicators for Business.

If you have any feedback on this publication then please feel free to contact the relevant staff.

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