James Anaya facts for kids

Quick facts for kids S. James Anaya
Anaya in Kuala Lumpur, March 2013
16th Dean of the University of Colorado Law School
In office August 8, 2016 – June 30, 2021
Preceded by	Phil Weiser
Succeeded by	Lolita Buckner
Personal details
Education	University of New Mexico (BA) Harvard Law School (JD)

Stephen James Anaya is an American lawyer. He is well-known for his work in human rights. He was the head, or Dean, of the University of Colorado Boulder Law School. Before that, he was a professor at the University of Arizona. He also worked for the United Nations. There, he was a "Special Rapporteur." This means he was a special expert. His job was to look into and report on the human rights of indigenous people around the world.

Early Life and Education

James Anaya was born in 1958. He is part Apache and Purépecha. These are both indigenous groups. He went to the University of New Mexico. He earned his first degree there in 1980. Then, he studied law at Harvard Law School. He got his law degree in 1983.

Working for Human Rights

Anaya teaches and writes about international human rights. This means the basic rights and freedoms that belong to everyone, everywhere. He also focuses on constitutional law. This is about the main rules that a country follows. He is especially interested in issues that affect indigenous peoples.

He has helped many groups and governments. He advises them on human rights and indigenous issues. He has also represented indigenous groups in court. These groups are from North and Central America. He helped them in important legal cases.

Protecting Land Rights

One very important case was Awas Tingni v. Nicaragua. In this case, a special court said that indigenous people have rights to their traditional lands. This was a big win for indigenous groups. It set a new rule in international law.

Anaya also led a legal team in Belize. They helped the Maya people there. The Supreme Court of Belize agreed that the Maya people had rights to their traditional lands. This was another important victory.

Role at the United Nations

In 2008, the United Nations chose James Anaya for a special job. He became the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of indigenous people. In this role, he traveled to many countries. He listened to indigenous communities. He then reported to the UN about their human rights. He worked to make sure their rights were respected.

Leading a Law School

In 2016, James Anaya became the Dean of the University of Colorado Boulder Law School. This means he was in charge of the whole law school. He worked there until 2021. He is still a respected professor at the university.

Selected Writings

James Anaya has written many books and articles. These writings help others learn about human rights and indigenous peoples. Here are a few examples:

• International Human Rights: Problems of Law, Policy, and Practice (2006)
• The Protection of Indigenous Peoples' Rights Over Lands and Natural Resources Under the Inter-American Human Rights System (2001)
• The Native Hawaiian People and International Human Rights Law (1994)

See also

In Spanish: James Anaya para niños