The 21st session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) was held April 25 – May 6 at United Nations headquarters in New York. After two years, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indigenous delegates from around the world were able to once again gather in person for the Forum. The UNPFII is a high-level advisory body to the Economic and Social Council, with a mandate to address issues related to Indigenous Peoples’ economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.
Land is Life and our delegation was able to participate in a number of dialogues and meetings throughout the forum. Deep concerns were expressed on the threats that the extractive industries, infrastructure mega projects, loggings, and large-scale agriculture pose to Indigenous Peoples Living in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact (PIACI). Land is Life, as the Secretariat of the International Working Group GTI PIACI, applauds the forum’s recommendations on human rights where it was recommended that the Human Rights Council (OHCHR), in cooperation with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and Indigenous people’s organizations, start a process of evaluating the progress made, identifying implementation gaps and making recommendations to advance the protection of PIACI and to guarantee their rights. This adoption marks one step closer towards the protection of the PIACI whose ways of life are exposed to extremely high vulnerability.
Land is Life at UNPFII 2022:
Strengthening the Collective Security of Indigenous Defenders Recording
Indigenous Voices on the Global 30×30 Initiative and Philanthropy’s Response