Intersectional approach in REDD+ projects in the indigenous territories in Colombia

Abstract

Indigenous communities in Colombia have historically suffered the violation of their fundamental rights, including the denial of their ancestral territorial possession, their constitutional protection status, and their right to free and informed consultation. In addition, the State's commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change have been breached. This research aims to examine how the intersectional approach can be a tool to ensure the fundamental rights of native peoples in relation to the implementation of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) projects, especially in the context of international and domestic regulations. To develop the main research, the hermeneutical approach was used, through the exegetic and systematic method, for which a documentary review was carried out, which allowed to establish through the following writing plan: i) the international and domestic framework for the protection of indigenous communities ii) REDD+ projects; iii) the standards for the protection of indigenous rights in REDD+ projects and, iv) the applicability of the intersectional approach to guarantee these rights. As a result, a deficit in the protection of collective rights and unconstitutional practices were evident in the implementation of REDD+ projects, in light of the massive violation of rights as subjects of special protection. The research underlines the need to adhere to the international regulatory framework to protect these rights and highlights the lack of effective implementation of the intersectional approach, which prevents the adequate protection and respect of indigenous rights.