ADF
ICEERS and the Ayahuasca Defense Fund work towards the advancement of legal recognition for traditional use of plants with psychoactive effects around the world, as well the recognition of these practices as intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO.
Some States have recognized, directly or indirectly, the knowledge related to the use of traditional plants with psychoactive effects as intangible cultural heritage. This is the case with Peru for coca leaf and ayahuasca. As recognized in the UN 2007 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,
“Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, as well as the manifestations of their sciences, technologies and cultures, including human and genetic resources, seeds, medicines, knowledge of the properties of fauna and flora, oral traditions, literatures, designs, sports and traditional games and visual and performing arts. They also have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their intellectual property over such cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions”
Relevant documents to download
2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage