ISHR’s Program on Indigenous Peoples’ rights focuses on three main goals. First we seek the capacity development of the student body through the integration of indigenous peoples’ rights in the human rights curriculum advanced by the Institute. Also in terms of capacity development we promote the participation of indigenous human rights advocates in ISHR’s Human Rights Advocates Program and are developing a relationship with indigenous universities and other actors to enhance the knowledge of Columbia students and their interaction with indigenous students and advocates in the human rights field.

Second, ISHR promotes multidisciplinary research, much of which has broad impact and public policy implications. This research focuses on the broad lines of study identified during the annual sessions of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Such research not only stimulates the academic community at Columbia, but will have an impact in international policy making.

Finally, we seek to organize international meetings, conferences and workshops with experts in the field that explore current and ongoing challenges pertaining to indigenous peoples’ rights. Our aim with this research is to cooperate with relevant international organizations, academics and indigenous and other civil society institutions, to encourage interdisciplinary approaches to considering current issues in indigenous peoples’ studies.