Categories ICCA on the international level, Key resources related to ICCA, Territorial integrity, community wellbeing

Submission to the African Commission: A Call for Legal Recognition of Sacred Natural Sites and Territories, and their Customary Governance Systems

First published on 12/31/2016, and last updated on 06/27/2017

Report: “Submission to the African Commission: A Call for Legal Recognition of Sacred Natural Sites and Territories, and their Customary Governance Systems

The Gaia Foundation, MELCA-Ethiopia, NAPE-Uganda, African Biodiversity Network, The Mupo Foundation and CIKOD (2015)

Available in English and French

This report focuses on the voice of custodian communities from six African countries, who have taken it upon themselves to revive and protect their valuable traditions and cultures by taking their case to the African Commission. In their statement, they emphasise how their customary governance systems operated since before recorded time, derived from their sacred natural sites and territories. Their Call to Action forms the essence of the legislative response requested from the African Commission – to develop policy and legal recognition for sacred natural sites and territories, and their customary governance systems.