Indigenous Peoples in the International Arena by Professor Elsa Stamatopoulou shares stories and insights into how Indigenous Peoples’ issues became matters of international concern. In the 1970s, Indigenous Peoples chose to internationalize their issues, and since then, the movement has grown dynamically. The book explores how the characteristics of this internationalization have evolved over the past sixty years and examines the role of international human rights norms and other frameworks, including environmental and climate justice, development, and intellectual property. By working initially through the human rights framework, Indigenous Peoples gained international attention, upheld the moral high ground, contributed new perspectives, and drove institutional changes to support the implementation of their rights—especially the right to self-determination. Through assertive advocacy and creative methodologies, Indigenous Peoples have overcome significant political resistance across various fields.
Professor Elsa Stamatopoulou has written extensively on human rights, with her book Cultural Rights in International Law (2007) recognized as a classic in the field. She has also co-edited Indigenous Peoples’ Access to Justice, Including Truth and Reconciliation Processes (2014); and The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: 50 Years and Beyond (1998); and various other books. Since 2011, she has taught at Columbia University in New York and, in 2012, became the first Director of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Program at Columbia’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights. She served as the first Chief of the Secretariat of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for 8 years.
A Multilingualism and Decolonial Dimensions of Education cluster event. A discussion on decoloniality in education will follow the talk. Organized by the International and Comparative Education (ICEd) Program at Teachers College. Co-sponsored by the Institute for the Study of Human Rights.
