7 35. The beach and the sea are part of the Garifuna ethnic and cultural identity, because in addition to their essential role for subsistence, they are linked to their history and, therefore, are important 13 elements in religious ceremonies and commemorations of their arrival by sea to Central America. 36. The identity of the Garifuna people is reinforced by the existence of their own language, which is based on “the Arawak and Caribbean Amerindian languages, and incorporates words from 14 French, Spanish and English,” and by the forms of ancestral organization surrounding cultural expressions, such as the dance tableaux, that play an important role not only in the preservation of culture, but also in communication and oral transmission of their history. Given the cultural value that Garifuna language, dance and music represent, based on an oral culture, the United Nations Organization for Education Science and Culture (UNESCO) declared them Masterpieces of the Oral and 15 Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001. 37. The Garifuna communities possess different forms of social organization, some of which are of a traditional nature, while others have been the product of the need to defend their rights and territories. Matriarchy prevails in their culture, considerably reinforcing the role of women in the area of education, politics, economics and social issues, aspects in which women participate jointly along side of 16 17 men. Moreover, masculine polygamy (polyandry) is admissible within the Garifuna culture. The Garifuna people of Honduras is located along the Atlantic coast of Honduras and consists of approximately 200,000 inhabitants, [who have] spread out into 46 communities, over the course of more than 205 years. It is part of the Honduran cultural identity. Historically it has been characterized as a peaceful people, respectful of nature and the areas inhabited by said people hold natural resources that allow them to re-create and develop their culture. Due to the importance of natural resources for the development of the Garifuna people and for the Honduran people in general, it is necessary for the State to take measures aimed at ensuring the 18 preservation of said natural resources. [sic] …continuation http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTINSPECTIONPANEL/Resources/HondurasFINALINVESTIGATIONREPORTSpanishTrad.pd Also, IA Ct. of HR, Case of López Álvarez v. Honduras. Judgment of September 1, 2006. Series C No. 141. par. 54.1. 13 González, Nancie. Sojourners of the Caribbean: Ethnogenesis and Ethnohistory of the garifunas. Universtiy of Illinois Press. Urbana and Chicago: 1988. At: World Bank Inspection Panel. Investigation Report on Honduras Land Administration Project. Report No. 39933-HN. June 12, 2007. p. 23. Available at: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTINSPECTIONPANEL/Resources/HondurasFINALINVESTIGATIONREPORTSpanishTrad.pdf . 14 According to UNESCO, “The Garifuna language belongs to the Arawak family of languages and has survived centuries of linguistic persecution and domination. It possesses great richness of úragas, stories that were recited during evening or large social gatherrings. The melodies meld African and American Indian elements and the texts are a veritable treasure trove of history and traditional knowledge of the Garifuna on the cultivation of manioc, fisheries, canoe building and baked clay brick home-building. There is also a heavy satirical component in the songs that are sung to the beat of drums and are acompanied by dance in which spectators take part.” UNESCO, Masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity – “The lenguage, dance and music of the Garifuna.” Available at: http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=ES&cp=HN. 15 See UNESCO, Masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity – “The lenguage, dance and music of the Garifuna.” Available at:: http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=ES&cp=HN. 16 See Caribbean Central America Research Council. Diagnostic Study on Land Use and Tenure in Garifuna and Miskita Communities of Honduras 2002-2003. Available at: http://ccarconline.org/Honduraseng.htm. 17 18 IA Court of HR. Case of López Álvarez v. Honduras. Judgment of February 1, 2006. Series C No. 141. par. 54.1. Annex 1. Motion endorsed by Deputies Olegario López Róchez, Erick Mauricio Rodríguez, Samuel Martínez, Jorge Leonídas García, among others, and introduced on April 18, 2002, in the National Congress. Annex to the initial petition dated October 27, 2003, received by the IACHR on October 29, 2003.