Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues - Press Conference (18 April 2023)

Speakers: Brazilian Minister of Indigenous Peoples, H.E. Sônia Guajajara (Portuguese) Chairperson of the Permanent Forum, Mr. Dario Mejia Montalvo (Spanish) Maasai Indigenous leader, Mr. Ole Kaunga (English). -------------------------------- The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is a high- level advisory body to the Economic and Social Council. The Forum was established on 28 July 2000 by resolution 2000/22, with the mandate to deal with indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights. Addressing the opening of the 22nd session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) today (17 Apr), the UN Secretary-General said that Indigenous Peoples live on the frontlines of the climate emergency but also hold many of the solutions to the climate crisis and are the guardians of the world’s biodiversity. He also stated that the UN stands with indigenous peoples and added that the Organization is committed to keeping promoting their rights in policies and programming at all levels – and amplifying all their voices. This year’s Forum focuses on the intersection of human and planetary health, the climate crisis, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples. At the opening of the UNPFII were also the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, and the United States Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland. In his opening remarks, Petro said, “It is the indigenous peoples, with our support, who can contribute to the fight against the climate crisis, one of the main pillars of sustaining the balance of life throughout the planet.” Representing her country, the United States Secretary of the Interior said, “In every corner of this planet, Indigenous communities exist in spite of the historic trauma that we have endured for centuries. If we are going to collectively heal from the wrongs of the past while building the world, we all deserve – Indigenous peoples everywhere must be brought into the fold.” Following the opening, the Brazilian Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Sônia Guajajara, the UNPFII Chairperson, Dario Mejía Montalvo, and the Masaai Leader, Naishorwa Masago, addressed the press. Sônia Guajajara said, “We, Indigenous Peoples, are 5 percent of the world’s population, and we protect 82 percent of global biodiversity. If 80 percent of global biodiversity is protected inside indigenous territories, then we need that the cultural rights, the livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples to be respected, rights to be guaranteed, and international agreements to be implemented in the local politics in our countries.” UNPFII Chairperson said to journalists, “Some progress has been made, but governments need to have the humility and courage to recognize that the solutions proposed up to now are not being effective; they are not resolving the global crisis; and they need consistency to recognize that international commitments and declarations must be turned into concrete plans.” The Masaai Leader, Naishorwa Masago, proposed dialogue between indigenous people and governments as a mechanism for the “co-management of these resources for the benefit of all instead of moving people away from their lands.” He added, “This is very important to me to avoid much more conflict in these areas.” UNPFII is a high-level advisory body to the Economic and Social Council established on 28 July 2000 by resolution 2000/22, with the mandate to deal with indigenous economic and social development issues, culture, the environment, education, health, and human rights. It is the largest international gathering of Indigenous Peoples, with more than 1000 participants expected to attend. The Forum has gained increasing recognition and impact as the global platform for dialogue, cooperation, and concrete action on Indigenous Peoples, with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the fundamental framework.


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