The Preamble Respect for human rights, including the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, is key to the realization of sustainable and productive landscapes for all.
The corresponding rights and obligations must be given effect without discrimination, and with prompt, fair and effective remedies provided, recognizing that due to specific conditions, characteristics and needs, certain persons or groups have distinct and specific sets of rights. Building on the rights affirmed in international human rights instruments and the aspirations of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and Afrodescendant Peoples, and those of women and youth within these groups, the following Standard was developed to ensure that all programs, projects and initiatives in landscapes are undertaken in equal partnership and solidarity with the aforementioned rightsholders, taking into account and respecting their distinct and differentiated rights, including their autonomy, priorities and cosmovisions.
Advancing this Standard will enable and encourage the development of innovative collective responses and solutions to climate change, biodiversity loss, other forms of environmental harm and sustainable development. To ensure consistency with developments in international human rights law, emerging best practices and the very aspirations of the undersigned Indigenous, local community, and Afro-descendant constituencies, the Principles outlined herein will be periodically reviewed and updated, as appropriate and applicable.
Gam Shimray, Secretary-General of Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP)