The twenty-fourth session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues took place from Monday, 21 April, to Friday, 2 May 2025.
The theme of the twenty-fourth session is: “Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples within United Nations Member States and the United Nations system, including identifying good practices and addressing challenges
From the 21st of April to the 2nd of May, delegates from UN Member States, civil society, and other stakeholders have been convened at the United Nations headquarters in New York for the 24th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. This Forum focused on addressing the concerns and rights of Indigenous peoples worldwide. Its primary purpose was to provide a platform for Indigenous communities to share their perspectives, raise issues, and participate in decision-making on topics such as culture, environment, health, human rights, and development. The Forum also worked to promote the recognition and protection of Indigenous peoples’ rights, and advised the UN on policies and programs that impact them. Through dialogue and collaboration, the UNPFII aims to ensure that Indigenous voices are heard and their rights are respected at the global level.
Marginalization and exclusion persist, not as remnants of the past, but as results of deliberate policies designed to erase Indigenous Peoples’ identities.
Many speakers at the Forum stressed the need to distinguish between Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
The Forum also approved additional recommendations, on matters ranging from “Dialogue with the United Nations agencies, funds and programs” to “Future work of the Permanent Forum”. Some of these were orally revised during the meeting, and will be contained in documents E/C.19/2025/L.4, E/C.19/2025/L.5, E/C.19/2025/L.6, E/C.19/2025/L.7, E/C.19/2025/L.8, E/C.19/2025/L.9, E/C.19/2025/L.10 and E/C.19/2025/L.11, as well as an informal working paper.
Advocacy Points were decided:
Recognize Indigenous peoples as stewards of biodiversity and essential partners in climate action.
Advocate for legal protection of Indigenous land against deforestation, extractive industries, and displacement.
Push for Indigenous leadership in decision-making at the UN and national levels.
Reflection:
“How do we walk in solidarity with Indigenous communities?