“呼吁自然圣地和地区的司法认定, and their Customary Governance Systems” was released by Gaia Foundation and African Biodiversity Network. 该报告提供了非洲人权和人民’ 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 盖亚基金会.

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.

自然圣地是生命之源. 自然圣地是我们来自哪里, 生命的心脏. 他们是我们的根，我们的启示. We cannot live without our sacred natural sites and we are responsible for protecting them. 来源: 保管人’ 声明.

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.

来源: adapted from 盖亚基金会.