International law and nomadic peoples: between silence and victimization

This article analyses developments in international law relating to the rights of mobile and nomadic peoples. It begins by presenting a detailed overview of the legal situation of these communities, highlighting the urgent need for international engagement that is adapted to their realities. The article then offers a critical analysis of the response of international law to the violations suffered by these groups, highlighting the limitations of an approach focused exclusively on the rights of mobile indigenous peoples. The 2024 report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, which focuses on mobility, is a notable exception in international law. As a general rule, nomadic peoples remain largely invisible in this legal system, which tends either to ignore them or to marginalize them by favoring norms that promote sedentary lifestyles.