Ensuring that all activities have the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples affected by operations is emerging as an essential commitment for any company operating in indigenous territories in order to respect their basic rights. Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) is consent that is given freely, by people fully informed of the consequences, prior to any decision being made, and according to their own decision-making processes.
This briefing paper focuses on the roles and responsibilities of companies, investors and finance institutions to identify, prevent and address the adverse human rights impacts of company operations. It identifies the rights of indigenous peoples that are potentially affected by extractive industry and infrastructure projects and explores the ethical, legal and financial reasons for respecting these rights. This paper highlights the importance of a company operating only where it has the free, prior and informed consent of any indigenous peoples potentially affected by their operations. It identifies some of the key challenges involved in implementing a Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) policy and makes recommendations for companies and shareholders who engage in business activities or investments in the Amazon.