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Customary Land & Forest Tenure Systems of Indigenous Peoples of Ethiopia, Opportunities, Challenges & the Ways Forward

  • Aeroport de Paris -Le Bourges 180 Esplanade de l’Air et de l’Espace, 93350. Paris France (map)

Organizers: Mainyoito Pastoralists Integrated Development Organization (MPIDO); Initiative for Living Community (ILCA).

Ethiopia is one of the signatory members of most of international legal documents such as UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol & Cancun Agreement. Ethiopian constitution recognizes the right of self-determination to secession & minority rights stipulated under ILO 169 and UNDRIP. This constitution recognizes the right of nations, nationalities and peoples to develop and promote their culture and preserve their history. The country has also policy on intellectual property & intellectual property laws.

However, weaving communities of Gamo Peoples of Ethiopia are one of the most marginalized communities especially in Addis Ababa. They are producers of environmentally friendly handmade cotton clothes. But they do not get the required benefit of their hardworking due to unlawful enrichment actions of brokers, designers & traders. Their works are not effectively promoted. Consequently, younger generation is abandoning occupation. This adversely affects development & cultures of Gamo weaving communities & also the cottage industry of the country.

Therefore, this event is aimed to create awareness to global community and promote traditional clothes produced by Gamo weavers and their contributions to climate resilient green development of Ethiopia. This proposed event is aimed to strengthen voices of African indigenous peoples to the global community so as to influence African governments to recognize the indigenous peoples' customary forest and land tenure systems in order for the indigenous peoples self-driven development agendas to be effectively implemented and their legal systems to be mainstreamed. African indigenous peoples representatives will organize the event.

Speaker: Desalegn Kabede Kaza, Programmes Coordinator and Legal Advisor, Initiative for Living Community Action (ILCA) (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia).

Moderator: Elijah Toirai, Mainyoito Pastoralists Integrated Development Organization (MPIDO) (Nairobi, Kenya).

Location: Indigenous Peoples' Pavilion (Auditorium)

Contact: Kaza Desalegn Kebede, dek.kaza@gmail.com