Lelewal has been involve in a multitude of programs that are geared towards building strong leadership within indigenous peoples communities and the strengthening of the recognition of indigenous peoples rights as stipulated by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) which are special rights and are inherent to the Universal Declaration of fundamental human rights.
Lelewal has been instrumental on the need to include indigenous peoples at all levels of decision making and also the respect of indigenous people self-determination in development plans at local and national level, particularly on projects and programs which the state intend to implement in indigenous peoples territories. Through her positions on changing the “top down approach “model of development, to a model where indigenous peoples are effectively consulted and included in all decisions and developmental plans. Lelewal and other indigenous people’s organizations and networks were able to create spaces and positions for indigenous peoples to fully and effectively participate in decision making cycles at local, national and global levels.