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Human R,ghts o"'
Human and Peoples' Rights
Collective Responsibility
disposal, but also the prohibition of invasion by third parties50, including the State
itself51; that the ownership of land includes its resources52.
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177. The Commission has considered that States Parties have the obligation to
recognise the right of indigenous peoples to communal property and to provide for
internal mechanisms to protect this right in accordance with international law, and
such protection cannot be perceived as discriminatory53; that the system of trust land
was inadequate for indigenous populations; that forced eviction is presumed to
massively violate the right to property54; that the right of access to land alone is
insufficient, because it makes indigenous populations vulnerable, and that property is
the safest way to protect indigenous populations from the encroachments of
indigenous peoples. third parties55.
178. The Commission considers that the ownership of land by indigenous peoples
cannot depend on the existence of a title deed. Moreover, the owners of land in
traditional African societies have never recognized each other based on title deed but
based on actual occupation or temporal precedence over a given territory. However,
the obligation of formal recognition of ownership of ancestral lands and the
consequent demarcation and attribution of title deed, would constitute the obligation
of the States Parties to protect indigenous populations from the attacks of third parties
who normally form dominant classes.
179. The Commission notes that in the present case, it is called upon to rule on the
Maasai's right of ownership of the claimed lands; and (b) the possibility of affecting
the property.
(a) The acquisition of land by means of original occupation or by time
immemorial
50 Ogoni case Comm,rnication No. 225/98 v Nigeria, 14th A1mual Report, para. 52.
51 Communicalions 54/91, 61/91, 98/93, 164/97, 196/97 and 210/98.
52 Ogoni case Communication No. 225/98 v Nigeria, 14th Annual Report, par•. 186, citing the Europe•n Court of Human Rights, in the c•se of Dogan and Othen,
v. Turkey, Europe•n Court of Human Rights, applications 8803-8811/02, 8813/02 and 8815-8819/02 (2004), paras. t38-139.
!9~.1?,~lti~~i<-fai_. .
53 Communication No 276/03: Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group (on behalf of the Endorois
para. 196.
54 Communication No 276/03: Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group (on behalf of the End
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55 Communication No 276/03: Centre for Minorit)' Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group (on behalf of the En
para. 204.
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