Definition of human rights by Winona LaDuke

Definition of human rights by Winona LaDuke

In this speech, how does Winona LaDuke define “human rights”? What rights is she urging? How does she (re)define international law?

Winona LaDuke defines human rights as the rights of all human beings on earth, which is inclusive of the rights of indigenous people. She posits that indigenous people are nations and meet all the stipulations to define them as so. Much like the people of any other country in the world, indigenous people have the right to self-determination under Article 1 of the UN’s International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. She states that just because the industrialized world is more developed than that of indigenous people does not mean that the rights of the indigenous people should be violated for the benefit of superpower corporations.

LaDuke urges the respect of the rights of indigenous nations, women, and the earth. She connects the similarities between the exploitation of the planet to the way women, especially indigenous culture, are exploited. She says that women should be allowed to lead a life of full participation in their roles to the communities they come from. The way large corporations exploit the homes of indigenous people rapes both the earth and the women of the ability to reproduce and purify the coming generations. Women are falling ill due to the harmful effects of pollution and deforestation that continue uninhibited..

Winona LaDuke redefines international law by first stating that the UN is made up of countries that are well developed and industrialized. For this reason, the decisions made at the UN affect people who are not represented in the sitting. This means that the indigenous and marginalized nations have no one to fight for their rights as the industrialized countries fight for theirs. In the end, decisions are made in favor of development and industrialization at the expense of indigenous people. She posits that for international law to be relevant, all people internationally should be represented and covered by the said laws. Indigenous people should be recognized as independent nations worthy of a voice in directing the making of international laws, as they are part of the world as much as the industrialized nations.