Litigating Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Africa: Potentials, challenges and limitations

Article

Gilbert, J. 2017. Litigating Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Africa: Potentials, challenges and limitations. International and Comparative Law Quarterly. 66 (3), pp. 657-686. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020589317000203
AuthorsGilbert, J.
Abstract

Adopting a comparative analysis, this article examines some of the recent cases of litigation which have focused on indigenous peoples’ rights across the African continent. The aim is to explore the potentials but also the challenges and limitations of litigation as a tool for supporting the rights of indigenous peoples in Africa. The article explores to what extent an African jurisprudence is emerging from these cases on issues that are essential to indigenous peoples such as non-discrimination, self-identification, land rights and development. It also focuses on the practical issues that arise with engaging with litigation to explore to what extent it could contribute to the legal empowerment of some of the most marginalised communities in Africa.

JournalInternational and Comparative Law Quarterly
Journal citation66 (3), pp. 657-686
ISSN0020-5893
1471-6895
Year2017
PublisherCambridge University Press for British Institute of International and Comparative Law
Accepted author manuscript
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020589317000203
Web address (URL)https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020589317000203
Publication dates
Online15 Jun 2017
Publication process dates
Deposited16 Jan 2017
Accepted09 Jan 2017
Accepted09 Jan 2017
Copyright informationThis is an author’s accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in a revised form in International and Comparative Law Quarterly [http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0020589317000203]. This version is free to view and download for private research and study only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works. © British Institute of International and Comparative Law
LicenseAll rights reserved
Permalink -

https://repository.uel.ac.uk/item/84v57

Log in to edit

Download files

Accepted author manuscript
Article_Final Version (1) - J. Gilbert.pdf

  • 187
    total views
  • 848
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 13
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Minority-related activities in the United Nations System in 2013
Holt, Sally, Jebodh, Rajiv and Gilbert, J. 2015. Minority-related activities in the United Nations System in 2013. in: European Yearbook of Minority Issues BRILL.
International Law and Land Rights in Africa: The shift from states’ territorial possessions to indigenous peoples’ ownership rights
Gilbert, J. and Couillard, Valérie 2011. International Law and Land Rights in Africa: The shift from states’ territorial possessions to indigenous peoples’ ownership rights. in: Home, Robert (ed.) Essays in African Land Law Pretoria University Law Press. pp. 47-68
Resources Grabbing and Human Rights: Building a Triangular Relationship Between States, Indigenous Peoples and Corporations
Gilbert, J. and Bernaz, Nadia 2015. Resources Grabbing and Human Rights: Building a Triangular Relationship Between States, Indigenous Peoples and Corporations. in: Bonfanti, Angelica, Romanin Jacur, Francesca and Seatzu, Francesco (ed.) Natural Resources Grabbing: Natural Resources Grabbing: An International Law Perspective BRILL.
Moving towards a Right to Land: The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ Treatment of Land Rights as Human Rights
Claridge, Lucy, Gilbert, J., Holt, Sally, Marlin, Rebecca and Jebodh, Rajiv 2015. Moving towards a Right to Land: The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ Treatment of Land Rights as Human Rights. Minority Rights Group.
Equality versus Fraternity? Rethinking France and its Minorities
Gilbert, J. 2016. Equality versus Fraternity? Rethinking France and its Minorities. International Journal of Constitutional Law. 14 (4), pp. 883-905. https://doi.org/10.1093/icon/mow059
Land grabbing, investors, and indigenous peoples: new legal strategies for an old practice?
Gilbert, J. 2015. Land grabbing, investors, and indigenous peoples: new legal strategies for an old practice? Community Development Journal. 51 (3), pp. 350-366. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsv025
Land grabbing, Land Rights and Human Rights: (Re) Setting the Agenda
Gilbert, J. 2014. Land grabbing, Land Rights and Human Rights: (Re) Setting the Agenda. Land grabbing, Land Rights and Human Rights: (Re) Setting the Agenda seminar. University of East London 06 Jun 2014 London University of East London, Centre for Human Rights in Conflict.
‘Land Rights are Human Rights’: The case for a Specific Right to Land?
Gilbert, J. 2014. ‘Land Rights are Human Rights’: The case for a Specific Right to Land? Land grabbing, Land Rights and Human Rights: (Re) Setting the Agenda seminar. University of East London 06 Jun 2014 London University of East London, Centre for Human Rights in Conflict.
Land Rights as Human Rights: The Case for a Specific Right to Land
Gilbert, J. 2013. Land Rights as Human Rights: The Case for a Specific Right to Land. Sur: International Journal on Human Rights. 10 (18), pp. 114-135.
The right to freely dispose of natural resources: Utopia or forgotten right?
Gilbert, J. 2013. The right to freely dispose of natural resources: Utopia or forgotten right? Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights. 31 (3), pp. 314-341.
The treatment of territory of indigenous peoples under international law
Gilbert, J. 2003. The treatment of territory of indigenous peoples under international law. in: Castellino, Joshua and Allen, Steve (ed.) Title to territory in international law: a temporal analysis Abingdon Ashgate. pp. 199-238
Environmental degradation as a threat to life: a question of justice?
Gilbert, J. 2003. Environmental degradation as a threat to life: a question of justice? Trinity College Law Review.
India: the blur of a distinction: Adivasis experience with land rights, self-rule and autonomy
Gilbert, J. 2004. India: the blur of a distinction: Adivasis experience with land rights, self-rule and autonomy. in: Castellino, Joshua and Walsh, Niamh (ed.) International Law and Indigenous Peoples Leiden, Netherlands Martinus Nijhoff.
Justice not revenge: The International Criminal Court and the ‘grounds to exclude criminal responsibility’ – defences or negation of criminality?
Gilbert, J. 2006. Justice not revenge: The International Criminal Court and the ‘grounds to exclude criminal responsibility’ – defences or negation of criminality? The International Journal of Human Rights. 10 (2), pp. 143-160.
Nomadic Territories: A Human Rights Approach to Nomadic Peoples' Land Rights
Gilbert, J. 2007. Nomadic Territories: A Human Rights Approach to Nomadic Peoples' Land Rights. Human Rights Law Review. 7 (4), pp. 681-716.
Indigenous Rights in the Making: The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Gilbert, J. 2007. Indigenous Rights in the Making: The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. International Journal on Minority and Group Rights. 14 (2), pp. 207-230.
Historical Indigenous Peoples' Land Claims: A Comparative and International Approach to the Common Law Doctrine on Indigenous Title
Gilbert, J. 2007. Historical Indigenous Peoples' Land Claims: A Comparative and International Approach to the Common Law Doctrine on Indigenous Title. International and Comparative Law Quarterly. 56 (03), pp. 583-611.
Les tribunaux militaires et tribunaux d’exceptions en République d’Irlande
Gilbert, J. and Olivier, Clementine 2008. Les tribunaux militaires et tribunaux d’exceptions en République d’Irlande. in: Lambert-Abdelgawad, Elisabeth (ed.) Juridictions Militaires Et Tribunaux D'exception En Mutation : Perspectives Comparées Et Internationales Paris Editions des Archives Contemporaines.
Land Rights and the Forest Peoples of Africa: Historical, Legal and Anthropological Perspectives
Couillard, Valérie, Gilbert, J., Kenrick, Justin, Kidd, Christopher and Forest Peoples Programme 2009. Land Rights and the Forest Peoples of Africa: Historical, Legal and Anthropological Perspectives. Moreton-in-Marsh Forest Peoples Programme.
Custodians of the land: indigenous peoples, human rights and cultural integrity
Gilbert, J. 2010. Custodians of the land: indigenous peoples, human rights and cultural integrity. in: Langfield, Michele, Logan, William and Craith, Máiread Nic (ed.) Cultural Diversity, Heritage and Human Rights: Intersections in Theory and Practice Abingdon Routledge. pp. 31-44
A new dawn over the land: shedding light on collective ownership and consent
Gilbert, J. and Doyle, Cathal 2011. A new dawn over the land: shedding light on collective ownership and consent. in: Allen, Stephen and Xanthaki, Alexandra (ed.) Reflections on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Oxford Hart Publishing.
International law and land rights in Africa: the shift from states’ territorial possessions to indigenous peoples' ownership rights
Gilbert, J. and Couillard, Valérie 2011. International law and land rights in Africa: the shift from states’ territorial possessions to indigenous peoples' ownership rights. in: Home, Robert (ed.) Essays in African Land Law Pretoria, South Africa Pretoria University Law Press. pp. 47-68
Indigenous peoples and globalization: from 'development aggression' to 'self-determined development'
Doyle, Cathal and Gilbert, J. 2011. Indigenous peoples and globalization: from 'development aggression' to 'self-determined development'. in: European Centre for Minority Issues, . and The European Academy Bozen/Bolzano, . (ed.) European Yearbook of Minority Issues Leiden, Netherlands Martinus Nijhoff.