Free, Prior and Informed Consent
Free, Prior and Informed Consent allows Indigenous peoples to provide consent on projects that affect them and their Territories. The consent can be withdrawn at any stage of the project and gives the ability for First Nations to negotiate the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of said project. It is recognized in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
Free
meaning the consent is given without coercion, intimidation or manipulation. It also means the process to determine consent is self-directed by the community and also is given without coercion, expectations or externally-imposed timelines.
Prior
meaning the consent is requested before any authorization or activities commence.
Information
meaning enough information is provided prior to seeking consent. It also means updates or new information is provided throughout the consent process.
Consent
meaning the rights holders make a collective decision that is reached through a normal decision-making process of their choosing.
For more information
Watch videos from SON’s 2018 Free, Prior and Informed Consent Conference:
Video here
Read the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples here:
PDF here
