“Sejħa għar-Rikonoxximent Legali ta’ Siti u Territorji Sagra Naturali, and their Customary Governance Systems” was released by Gaia Foundation and African Biodiversity Network. Ir-rapport jipprovdi lill-Kummissjoni Afrikana għall-Bniedem u l-Popli’ Rights with persuasive and substantive arguments relating to a core element of original African traditions and calls for a decisive policy and legislative response on the matter. Read the full report or visit the website of Fondazzjoni Gaia.

The report is based on a statement, by custodian communities from six African countries and provides a body of legal and policy support for the custodians’ statement, drawn both from the African Charter as well as from international and domestic law.

siti naturali sagru huma s-sors tal-ħajja. siti naturali sagru huma fejn aħna ġejjin minn, -qalba tal-ħajja. Huma għeruq tagħna u ispirazzjoni tagħna. We cannot live without our sacred natural sites and we are responsible for protecting them. Sors: Kustodji’ Dikjarazzjoni.

It reminds us that the African Charter commits member states to respect and maintain plural legal systems, and recommends that African countries should recognise a priori legal systems as part of their commitment to a proud African identity, to better navigate a development path where the integrity and heritage of the continent is maintained.
Key points of the report:

• Sacred natural sites play a critical role in protecting biodiversity, essential for building climate change resilience.
• Custodian communities, of sacred natural sites who maintain customary governance systems play an essential role in preserving the traditional values of Africa.
• Sacred natural sites are the bedrock of customary governance systems require legal protection.
• Plural legal systems include customary governance systems and form an essential component of respecting the essence of Africa,
• Sacred natural sites and territories should be recognised as no-go areas for mining and other destructive or extractive activities.

The report also calls for the recognition and protection of sacred natural sites from any form of destruction – including mining and land grabbing – as a prerequisite for realising African peoples’ inalienable rights enshrined in the Africa Charter, including the right to hold and practice traditional morals, values and culture. A discussion of global precedents, Africa’s plural legal systems and case studies from Benin, Ethiopia and Kenya are also included.

Sors: adapted from Fondazzjoni Gaia.