Background
INTRODUCTION
The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights states in article 17:
1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
These rights recognize the essential role land ownership plays in the lives of farmers—both as a financial asset and a way to make a living. For indigenous communities, land is a shared resource that defines their collective culture and identity. Other international law protects indigenous territories: the International Labour Organization's Convention Concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries devotes the entire second section to land issues.