65
243.
Accordingly, the IACHR considers that on having failed to take effective actions to
prevent the invasion and illegal deforestation of the indigenous territory, and to effectively protect the
territory and natural resources of the alleged victims, the State of Panama triggered its international
responsibility for violating Article 21 of the American Convention in relation to its Article 1(1), to the
detriment of the Kuna indigenous people of Madungandí and the Emberá indigenous people of Bayano
and their members.
2.3.
Failure to provide an adequate and effective procedure for access to territorial
property rights and protection vis-à-vis third persons – Articles 8 and 25 of the
Convention, in relation to Articles 1(1) and 2
a)
Obligation to provide an adequate and effective procedure for the recognition,
titling, demarcation, and delimitation of the collective property rights of the
indigenous peoples
244.
As established by the Inter-American Court in its case-law in respect of indigenous
peoples, the obligations contained in Articles 8 and 25 of the Convention presuppose that the States
granted effective protection that takes account of their own particularities, their economic and social
characteristics, and their situation of special vulnerability, their customary law, values, and uses and
340
customs.
In addition, the case-law of the inter-American human rights system has determined that
indigenous and tribal peoples have a right for there to be effective and expeditious administrative
mechanisms to protect, ensure, and promote their rights over ancestral territories by which they can carry
341
out the processes of recognition, titling, demarcation, and delimitation of their territorial property.
245.
The procedures in question should abide by the rules of due process of law enshrined in
342
Articles 8 and 25 of the American Convention. In this respect, the Inter-American Court has specified
that due process should be followed both in administrative proceedings and in any other proceeding
343
whose decision may affect the rights of persons. In light of this requirement, the case-law of the interAmerican system has identified a series of characteristics that these administrative mechanisms should
have under Articles 8, 25, 1(1), and 2 of the American Convention.
246.
These special mechanisms and procedures should be effective. The Inter-American
Court has examined, in light of the requirements of effectiveness and reasonable time established in
Article 25 of the American Convention, whether the states have established administrative procedures for
the titling, delimitation, and demarcation of indigenous lands, and if they do have them, whether they
340
I/A Court H.R.. Case of the Yakye Axa Indigenous Community v. Paraguay. Merits, Reparations and Costs. Judgment
of June 17, 2005. Series C No. 125, para. 63. I/A Court H.R.. Case of the Sawhoyamaxa Indigenous Community v. Paraguay.
Merits, Reparations and Costs. Judgment of March 29, 2006. Series C No. 146, paras. 82, 83.
341
I/A Court H.R.. Case of the Mayagna (Sumo) Awas Tingni Community v. Nicaragua. Merits, Reparations and Costs.
Judgment of August 31, 2001. Series C No. 79, para. 138. Case of the Yakye Axa Indigenous Community v. Paraguay. Merits,
Reparations and Costs. Judgment of June 17, 2005. Series C No. 125, para. 143. IACHR, Indigenous and Tribal Peoples’ Rights
over their Ancestral Lands and Natural Resources: Norms and Jurisprudence of the Inter‐ American Human Rights System.
OEA/Ser.L/V/II.Doc.56/09, December 30, 2009, para. 335.
342
I/A Court H.R.. Case of the Sawhoyamaxa Indigenous Community v. Paraguay. Merits, Reparations and Costs.
Judgment of March 29, 2006. Series C No. 146, paras. 81, 82.
343
I/A Court H.R.. Case of the Yakye Axa Indigenous Community v. Paraguay. Merits, Reparations and Costs. Judgment
of June 17, 2005. Series C No. 125, para. 62. I/A Court H.R.. Case of Baena Ricardo et al. v. Panama. Merits, Reparations and
Costs. Judgment of February 2, 2001. Series C No. 72, para. 127. I/A Court H.R.. Case of the Sawhoyamaxa Indigenous
Community v. Paraguay. Merits, Reparations and Costs. Judgment of March 29, 2006. Series C No. 146, paras. 82, 83. The
effective remedy that the states should offer under Article 25 of the American Convention “must be substantiated according to the
rules of due legal process (Article 8 of the Convention)” [I/A Court H.R.. Case of the Yakye Axa Indigenous Community v. Paraguay.
Merits, Reparations and Costs. Judgment of June 17, 2005. Series C No. 125, para. 62]. The Inter-American Court has indicated
that among the domestic administrative procedures that should ensure the guarantees of due process are, for example, procedures
for recognizing indigenous leaders, procedures for recognition of juridical personality, and the procedures for restitution of lands [I/A
Court H.R.. Case of the Sawhoyamaxa Indigenous Community v. Paraguay. Merits, Reparations and Costs. Judgment of March 29,
2006. Series C No. 146, paras. 81, 82].