James Anaya teaches and writes in the areas of international human rights, constitutional law, and issues concerning indigenous peoples. He has lectured in many countries in all continents of the globe; advised numerous indigenous and other organizations from several countries on matters of human rights and indigenous peoples; and represented indigenous groups from many parts of North and Central America in landmark cases before courts and international organizations. Among his noteworthy activities, he participated in the drafting of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and was the lead counsel for the indigenous parties in the case of Awas Tingni v. Nicaragua, in which the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for the first time upheld indigenous land rights as a matter of international law.