The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD): A User Guide for Land Defenders

Canada always looks for ways to deny the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples. But, internationally, it’s a different story. Self- determination is a well-established principle of international law. That is why Indigenous nations and groups have used international human rights mechanisms like the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) for years to assert their rights, build political leverage, demand accountability, and access enforcement mechanisms.

This user guide outlines how CERD can serve as a political mechanism accessible to land defenders in advancing their goals.