Marking eight years since the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted, Megan Davis, Chair of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII), called on UN Member States to ensure that indigenous peoples' rights are considered when implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and taking action on climate change.
13 September 2015: Marking eight years since the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted, Megan Davis, Chair of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII), called on UN Member States to ensure that indigenous peoples’ rights are considered when implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and taking action on climate change.
Davis observed reluctance by some governments to recognize and redress historical wrongs, and calls for concerted action to overcome obstacles to the full enjoyment of indigenous peoples’ rights, in particular indigenous women’s rights. She highlighted UNDRIP’s provisions on the rights of indigenous peoples to participate in matters relating to their traditional lands, territories and resources.
Davis also recalled the outcome of the 2014 World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (WCIP), which laid out concrete steps to operationalize UNDRIP. She called on UN Member States to demonstrate the political will, technical capacity and financial commitment for its implementation.
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted UNDRIP on 13 September 2007. [PFII Chair’s Statement] [WCIP Outcome (A/RES/69/2)]