Land Rights Study

Burundi, Cameroon, DRC, Rwanda, UgandaResearch 2007-2009 (Publication June 2009)Legal developments since pre-colonial era Retraces in history the manner in which territory was acquired by the State according to international lawConsequences for traditional ‘Pygmy’ forest -dwelling hunter-gatherer peoples (Batwa, Bacwa, Bambuti, Bagyeli, Baka, Ba’Aka, Baaka,...)

Common findingsSlow dispossession since pre-colonial era

Displaced without compensation

Landlessness

Restricted or no access to ancestral lands

Marginalisation

Exclusion from ownership and administration of forest

Acquisition processes barely available/accessible

Commitments to treaties but lack of implementation

Conflicting legal norms

Key issues• Land rights are human

rights• Recognition• Equality and non

discrimination• Indigenous peoples

and Conservation• Participation and

consent (FPIC)• Right to Reparation

Ways forward

• Implementation

• Reparation

• Participation

• Consent

Thank you & Contact detailsValérie Couillard

Africa Legal and Human Rights Programme Coordinator

Forest Peoples Programme1c Fosseway Business CentreStratford Road, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9NQ, England

Tel: +44 (0)1608 652893Fax: +44 (0)1608 652878

Web: www.forestpeoples.org

Email: valerie@forestpeoples.org