Essex teams up with the Inga People of Colombia at the United Nations

Essex legal experts teamed up with indigenous representatives from Colombia to make special representations before key members of the United Nations.

Dr Matthew Gillett and Dr Marina Lostal, both from Essex Law School, worked with the Inga people to undertake research on indigenous rights and higher education.

Together with Freider Legarda Mojomboy, Gabriel Muyuy Jacanamejoy and Yuli Meneses from the Inga Indigenous Territorial Entity AWAI, and co-investigator Santiago del Hierro from ETH Zurich, Dr Gillett and Dr Lostal collaborated in a report on human rights and intercultural higher education that was presented to UN Special Rapporteurs Farida Shaheed (Education) and the team of Francisco Cali Tzay (Indigenous Peoples and other officials) at the time of a United Nations High-Level Event in December.

The report became an input on the right to access and take part in scientific progress issued by the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights.

Key themes raised in the submission to the Special Rapporteurs and their teams included indigenous rights to their own education and how this can be a tool to peace-building in a post conflict setting, such as Colombia.

The experts also noted how indigenous-led education can facilitate environmental protection and ensure that cultural knowledge is preserved.

Dr Gillett said: “With a large number of UN representatives and national officials present, it was a valuable opportunity to attend discussions at the Palais des Nations, and disseminate the research.

“Over the two days, the team was able to sensitize interlocutors to the challenges that the Inga people face and explain how higher education can assist them to enjoy their human rights.

“As a result, they have now been requested to provide inputs on these themes to ongoing projects of Special Mandate holders.”

The project is being funded through an Arts and Humanities Research Council grant and is looking to develop international networks to research peace and trust, while addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

This project is being realised through knowledge exchange, including workshops in Colombia, meetings with Colombian officials, and engagement with the UN and Special Mandate holders.