194. The UNESCO Convention on the Frotection of the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage, in its Part 2, entitled "National and International Protection of the
Cultural and Natural Heritage", states in its Article 5: "in order to ensure that the
cultural arid natural heritage sifzmfed on their territory is protected and preserved ns
ejfertizieli/ ns possible anil that it is enhanced as actively as possible nailer conditions
appropriate to each country, the States Parties to this Convention shall ('lItl('llllO!lt as
.far as possible: (a) to adopt a general polici/ designer! to assign affection to the cultural
and rzatnral heritage in the life of the Colllfllllllll]/, arid to incorporate the protection of
that heritage into general planning progrannnes"*l! .
195. In view of the foregoing, the establishment of a natural site as a national park
should not be done to the detriment of the original occupants, especially when
it is an indigenous people, unless the State can prove that the actions of these
populations are harmful to the said protection.
196. In this case, the Respondent State has not produced any evidence to show that
the choice of the Kahuzi-Biega Fark was not to the detriment of the Batwa
people. On the contrary, it is clear from the testimonies and documents at the
Commission's disposal that, in the aftermath of the establishment of this Park,
the Batwa were denied access to their ancestral lands, which contain a number
of natural resources. The Commission also notes that the DRC has exploited
these natural resources or allowed other parties to do so without consulting
them or paying them compensation for the benefits derived from these
resources, and that it has caused or failed to prevent the environmental
degradation of the natural resources of their forest.
197. In this regard, the Commission recalls that it has already recognised a number
of rights to ancestral land for the Batwa people, including the right of use (uses)
and the right to enjoy the fruits
Arius). in their nature, both rights imply the
right to access and occupy this forest in order to benefit from it. It is clear that
in this case, both rights have been violated.
198. From all the above, the Commission concludes that Article 21 (1 and 2) of the
Charter has been violated.
B1 See A;ui¢-s§fEeuwesco Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural
.
"3
ii\""
.
41