Statement on Agenda Item 4 Discussion on the six mandated areas of the Permanent Forum (economic and social development, culture, environment, education, health and human rights), with reference to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Statement by the Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples (REP), Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development and TEBTEBBA

This statement is delivered on behalf of the REP, Indigenous Peoples Major Group and Tebtebba as one of the co-convenors of the IPMG along with the International Indian Treaty Council. 

We strongly urge the UNPFII to strengthen its engagement, in collaboration with the Indigenous Peoples Major Group, in sustainable development processes including in the ongoing negotiation for the Pact for the Future, the upcoming Financing for Development Forum, High Level Political Forum, Summit of the Future, and the 2025 World Summit for Social Development to ensure that the global development agenda and financing for development aligns with the recommendations of Indigenous Peoples for direct access to funding to support their self determined priorities and that national development plans integrate specific needs and priorities of Indigenous Peoples.

We urge states to not use our very own limited space in the UN to invalidate us as distinct peoples with collective rights and the issues we are raising on realities on the ground but instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Indigenous Peoples. Further, we urge states to ensure that the Pact for the Future has specific reference to states commitment to implement the rights of Indigenous Peoples as enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, recognition of Indigenous Peoples contributions to achieving sustainable and key partners as rightsholders in advancing the sustainable development agenda, and that financing for development is directed to  Indigenous Peoples to support Indigenous Peoples led and managed initiatives and solutions. We also recommend in line with the implementation of SDG7 for the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) to ensure the implementation of Indigenous Peoples rights particularly to Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and also provide direct access to funding to Indigenous Peoples led and managed energy solutions. 

We urge UN agencies to ensure that country offices have direct partnership with Indigenous Peoples to ensure that interventions are responsive to arising needs and priorities of Indigenous Peoples and to support the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples in development planning and VNR processes and strengthen data disaggregation by ethnicity at the country level.

Thank you.