This Policy guide to secure land rights for indigenous peoples in cities has been jointly prepared by UN-HABITAT and the Secretariat of the Global Land Tool Network.

Officially launched at the 10th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, in New York, May 17, this guide helps inform decision-makers on the problems facing indigenous people and their rights when it comes to land and property rights in the urban context. It sets out many interesting ideas on this how to achieve this through a human rights framework.

Elizabeth Tromp, Assistant Deputy Minister, Office of the Federal Interlocutor, Canada, addressed a UN-HABITAT meeting during the New York launch.

Christophe Lalande of UN-HABITAT, and Anne-Marie Tupuola, an international expert on indigenous matters from New-Zealand, highlighted the findings and recommendations of the latest UN Housing Rights Programme Report, which was presented last year at the fifth session of the World Urban Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Celeste McKay, a UN-HABITAT consultant on urban indigenous affairs from Canada, presented the structure and the main highlights of the Policy Guide. Vera Pawis Tabobondung of the Ojibway Nation, and member of the Fish Clan from the Wasauksing First Nation welcomed this new publication and presented the experience of the National Association of Friendship Centres in Canada, of which she is the President.

This publication complements earlier guides and is part of a series of UN-HABITAT handbooks focused on the rights of indigenous peoples. The first policy guide entitled, Housing indigenous peoples in cities: urban policy guides for indigenous peoples was published in 2009. It was followed by a 2010 report also launched at the Rio forum, entitled, Urban indigenous peoples and migration: A review of policies, programmes and practices.

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