Contents
Preface & Introduction.................................................................................................................................................. i
Section 1: Understanding our right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent.................................................................. 1
1.1
What is Free, Prior and Informed Consent?.................................................................................................... 1
1.2
Why is Free, Prior and Informed Consent important?.................................................................................... 3
1.3
Free, Prior and Informed Consent in international law................................................................................... 4
1.4
FPIC in International “best practice” standards.............................................................................................. 5
1.5
FPIC and Indigenous rights in Guyanese law................................................................................................... 7
Section 2: Getting organised to defend our right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent........................................... 10
2.1
Knowing our rights........................................................................................................................................ 10
2.2
Establishing and demonstrating our customary rights to land and natural resources.................................. 11
2.2a
Lessons from Indigenous mapping................................................................................... 12
2.3
Community visioning and unity.................................................................................................................... 14
2.4
Deciding on how we will make community decisions and
strengthening our decision-making systems if we need to........................................................................... 14
2.4a
Deciding what institutions will represent our people...................................................... 15
2.4b
Deciding on our decision-making process........................................................................ 16
2.4c
Community consent protocols......................................................................................... 18
Section 3: Getting informed about the project.......................................................................................................... 19
3.1
Important information and where to find it.................................................................................................. 20
3.2
Getting the right advice................................................................................................................................. 25
3.3
Making sense of the information with our community................................................................................ 25
Section 4: Reaching agreement and making sure it is properly implemented......................................................... 27
4.1
Entering into negotiations............................................................................................................................. 27
4.2
Reaching agreement..................................................................................................................................... 27
4.2a
Legalising agreements...................................................................................................... 28
4.3
Monitoring implementation and compliance............................................................................................... 28
4.4
Dealing with complaints and grievances....................................................................................................... 29
Conclusions................................................................................................................................................................. 30
Appendix 1: Websites with information on mining companies and Indigenous rights............................................ 31