Legal Protection of Sacred Natural Sites Within Human Rights Jurisprudence: Sápmi and Beyond

Abstract

The protection of Indigenous sacred natural sites does not fit easily within Western freedom of religion jurisprudence. This chapter examines what room there is for sacred natural sites within regional human rights jurisprudence, in Europe and beyond. The authors ultimately argue that there is potential to develop freedom of religion so as to offer protection to sacred natural sites, particularly if weight is given to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).