CONSEJO INTERNACIONAL DE TRATADOS INDIOS

Questionnaire regarding major development projects

(Please answer the following questions as detailed as possible.  You are welcome to provide any additional information if you deem it necessary)

1.         What is the purpose of the project? (Ex., hydroelectric dam, lumbering old-growth or primal forests, establishing a tourist complex, building transportation networks, etc.)

2.         Where is it located, and which area does it affect directly? (In what specific region of the country and how large an area does it include)

3.         How is the project financed?

4.         Who is responsible for the project and who is involved? (Ex. national government, multilateral development agencies, multinational corporations)

5.         What is the duration of the project? (Planning, building and operational phases)

6.         What results are expected or have been obtained by the project? (Ex. barrels of oil, tons of minerals, cubic feet of wood, irrigated hectares)

7.         Who lives in the area? Do indigenous peoples inhabit the affected area?

8.         How were/are they involved in the planning, impact mitigation, immediate and long-term benefit-sharing, and exit strategies if appropriate of such projects?

9.         In what way has the project impacted upon their lives and livelihoods?

10.        Is there a special policy to deal with the concerns of indigenous communities?

11.        Do indigenous peoples have a voice in making their concerns known, are their organizations listened to?

12.        What mechanisms are there for indigenous peoples to deal with their concerns (ex. petitions, negotiating teams, special defenders, committees, arbitration boards, courts, political representation, etc.)

13.        What are the major environmental impacts of the project?

14.        What are the major human rights implications for indigenous populations (Ex. forced displacements, land rights issues, environmental disruption, community disorganization, destruction of sacred sites, public health concerns, new employment and labour relations). Are there any particular concerns regarding women and children?

15.        What is being done about this and how are these issues handled?