Sustainable Development Goals in International Law and Protection of Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Abstract

Introduction. International acts on sustainable development and human rights protection and promotion reveal interconnection between sustainability of development and protection of indigenous peoples’ rights. As the two concepts, that of sustainable development and that of indigenous peoples’ rights, are reflected in international law acts, their study in terms of international law science is necessary. The study is aimed to define theoretical bases and timely issues of international law coverage of sustainable development of indigenous peoples..Materials and Methods. The study covers universal and regional (these of Arctic and America) international acts concerning sustainable development and protection of human rights. Works of specialists in international law and other humanitarian sciences dedicated to protection of indigenous peoples’ rights and sustainable development serve as its theoretical basis. The authors stick to system approach in their analysis of the concepts studied in terms of international legal science. Alongside with common scientific methods, they apply special methodology of legal science.Results. Application of historical and comparative legal methods to the international acts on sustainable development and protection of human rights allowed the authors to reveal three major trends. The fi is recognition of indigenous peoples’ right to development and enjoyment of the virtues of sustainable development by the international community. The second one is the direct connection between protection of indigenous peoples’ rights and sustainable development. The third trend consists in recognition of the contribution of indigenous peoples to sustainable development by the international community. Using complex and system methods in studying those tendencies revealed the timely theoretical issues of maintaining sustainable development of indigenous peoples.Discussion and Conclusions. Ensuring sustainable development of indigenous peoples is impossible without a review of the philosophical framework of the concept of sustainable development taking into account visions of those peoples. Protection of indigenous peoples’ rights directly influences their ability to enjoy virtues and contribute to sustainable development. Ignorance towards indigenous peoples’ rights and legal interests results in prejudice to those peoples caused by activities aimed to achieve the sustainable development goals. Modern sustainable development agenda doesn’t take into account a number of possible spheres of cooperation between indigenous peoples, civil community and state in the field of sustainable development.