10 July 2018: On Tuesday, 10 July, on the sidelines of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development (IPMG) organized an event that addressed, among other things, the critical role of securing the lands, territories and resources of indigenous peoples to achieve the SDGs.

During the event, Joan Carling, IPMG, called for including protection of the planet and marginalized groups into SDG discussions, and for full participation of indigenous peoples in national SDG decision making and review. Sylvia Elias, Global Indigenous Youth Caucus, highlighted a partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), which enabled youth participation in various SDG platforms, and called for international support to recognize unrepresented indigenous youth groups.

Many Asian countries legally recognize indigenous peoples’ land and territorial rights, but that enforcement is inadequate.

Speakers also, inter alia:

• called for the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 to recognize indigenous peoples’ rights to land, territories and resources;
• noted that many Asian countries legally recognize indigenous peoples’ land and territorial rights, but that enforcement is inadequate;
• highlighted the Bikin National Park in the Russian Federation, which is co-managed by indigenous peoples and the government; and
• urged including indigenous women’s knowledge in climate change measures.

Participants also called for full implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) to achieve the SDGs, and emphasized the importance of establishing a legal procedure to enable rapid demarcation and official recognition of indigenous peoples’ rights to lands and natural resources. [Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development Website] [IISD RS Coverage of the Side Event on Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Development]