The Indigenous World 2025: Intersections of Age, Disability, and Indigeneity: Amplifying the Voices of Indigenous Persons and Youth with Disabilities

Written on 25 April 2025. Posted in Indigenous Persons with Disabilities Global Network (IPWDGN)

As disability rates continue to rise, Indigenous communities worldwide face profound challenges. An estimated 54 million Indigenous individuals live with disabilities, including 28 million Indigenous women. In the Asia-Pacific region alone, 45 million Indigenous persons with disabilities experience extreme poverty and vulnerability, exacerbated by inadequate services, natural disasters, and climate crises.

Indigenous persons with disabilities are frequently denied autonomy and the ability to exercise their individual and collective rights. They must navigate the tension between asserting these rights and the societal norms that marginalize them.

Conventional disability frameworks often fail to acknowledge Indigenous collective rights and cultural identities. Rooted in colonial perspectives, these frameworks emphasize individual deficits rather than structural barriers, resulting in policies that disregard Indigenous values, social customs, and traditional knowledge systems.

This article highlights the need for inclusive and culturally sensitive approaches that recognize the intersection of Indigeneity and disability, ensuring that Indigenous persons with disabilities can exercise self-determination and cultural autonomy.

This article is part of the 39^th edition of The Indigenous World, a yearly overview produced by IWGIA that serves to document and report on the developments Indigenous Peoples have experienced. The photo above is of an Indigenous activist Funa-ay Claver, a Bontok Igorot, standing alongside Indigenous youth activists and others. They are protesting against the repressive laws and human rights violations suffered through the actions and projects of the Government of the Philippines and other actors against Indigenous Peoples at President Marcos Jr’s national address on 22 July 2024 in Quezon City, Philippines. The photo was taken by Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas and is the cover of The Indigenous World 2025 where this article is featured. Find The Indigenous World 2025 in full here

 The voices of Indigenous persons with disabilities

Our ultimate vision is a world where Indigenous youth are deeply connected to their roots, empowered to achieve their goals, and committed to life. We believe in their power and, together, we strive to end preventable deaths by suicide in our communities. – Finding Our Power Together^[1]

As Indigenous youth with disabilities, we struggle to make our voices heard. We are often invisible, yet our participation is crucial.^[2] – Deepika Lama

We no longer want to be invisible among the invisible. – Siana Leão Guajajara^[3]

Challenges faced by Indigenous persons with disabilities

Indigenous Peoples are not a homogenous group, nor are Indigenous persons with disabilities. They include women, girls, youth, children, the elderly, and LGBTIQ+ individuals. Globally, 1.3 billion people (16% of the world's population) live with disabilities, of whom more than 54 million are Indigenous.

Indigenous persons with disabilities experience multiple layers of discrimination based both on their Indigenous identity and their disability. These intersecting forms of discrimination limit their access to justice, development programs, education, employment, healthcare, transport, and other essential services. Factors such as poverty, marginalization, and invisibility further prevent them from advocating for their rights.

Despite these barriers, Indigenous persons with disabilities continue to assert their rights through various international legal frameworks, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), ILO Convention No. 169, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and its General Recommendation 39 on the Rights of Indigenous Women and Girls, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

Advocacy and achievements in 2024

In 2024, Indigenous persons with disabilities engaged in advocacy, training, research, and networking efforts to amplify their voices. Key developments include:

• The Report on Indigenous Persons with Disabilities (A/HR/C57/27)^[4] by the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, published in September 2024, highlighting global challenges faced by Indigenous persons with disabilities.
• The Scoping Study on Climate Change and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR),^[5] conducted by the Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) and National Indigenous Disabled Women Association-Nepal (NIDWAN), launched in February 2024.
• Symposium on Intersectionality, Indigeneity, and Disability Climate Justice^[6] held at Harvard Law School and Padma Kanya Multiple Campus (PKMC), Tribhuvan University.
• Publication in The Lancet Planetary Health: Advancing disability-inclusive climate research and action, climate justice, and climate-resilient development,^[7] which includes issues of Indigenous persons with disabilities.
• Funding Trend Analysis on Indigenous Peoples’ Philanthropy^[8] (2024), launched by International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP) and Archipel Research and Consulting, highlighting the inclusion of Indigenous persons with disabilities in philanthropy.
• Gender Equality and Disability Inclusion Guidelines to Address the Specific Needs of Women and Girls with Disabilities^[9] by the Asian Development Bank (May 2024), featuring a section on Indigenous women and girls with disabilities.

Strengthening global advocacy

Significant advocacy events in 2024 amplified the voices of Indigenous persons with disabilities:

• First National Symposium on Women and Girls with Disabilities (March 2024), where 120 intergenerational participants called for an end to tokenism and exclusion.
• Asia-Pacific Regional Convening of Indigenous Women and Girls with Disabilities (March 2024), leading to the creation of The Asia-Pacific Indigenous Women and Girls with Disabilities Network.
• National and Sub-National Civil Society Consultations on Beijing +30 (September 2024) in Nepal, leading to the Asia-Pacific Declaration of Women and Girls with Disabilities: Beijing +30.
• Statements at the 55^th Session of the Human Rights Council (March 2024) and the 17^th Conference of State Parties to the UN CRPD (COSP17) (June 2024), where Indigenous persons with disabilities shared their concerns on climate crises and humanitarian emergencies.
• Global Disability Summit 2025 Consultative Webinar (December 2024), the first event dedicated to Indigenous persons with disabilities in global disability discussions.
• Just Transition: Indigenous Peoples’ Perspectives, Knowledge and Lived Experiences (October 2024, Switzerland), where Indigenous leaders, including persons with disabilities, contributed to the Indigenous Peoples’ Principles and Protocols for Just Transition.
• Participation in UNFCCC COP 29 (November 2024), where discussions on climate change, SRHR, and Indigenous persons with disabilities were held.
• Intervention at the 56^th session of the Human Rights Council (July 2024), highlighting climate crises, Indigenous knowledge systems, and disability rights. 

Indigenous youth with disabilities: challenges and opportunities

Key Facts:

• 220 million youth with disabilities worldwide are marginalized, especially from education and employment.
• 98% of children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend school; 99% of girls with disabilities are illiterate.
• 30% of street youth have a disability.
• Asia and the Pacific is home to 60% of the world’s youth population.

Indigenous youth with disabilities face additional barriers due to discrimination, social stigma, and lack of recognition. Many struggle to access education, healthcare, employment, and social participation. Their experiences remain largely undocumented and overlooked in both Indigenous and disability movements.

Perspectives from Indigenous youth with disabilities

Despite International Youth Day highlighting youth issues, there are no dedicated global studies on Indigenous youth with disabilities. Our voices remain unheard, and we lack collective organization. – Indigenous Young Woman with Disability, Nepal

The system does not recognize Indigenous youth with disabilities within youth, Indigenous, or disability movements. Our identities are blurred, and our voices remain unheard. – Indigenous Young Woman with Disability, Canada

Our intersectional identities are not acknowledged, making us invisible in policy discussions and program planning. – Indigenous Young Man with Disability, Kenya

Conclusion

Indigenous youth with disabilities bring invaluable cultural, traditional, and modern knowledge. It is imperative to create inclusive spaces that enable them to participate meaningfully in their communities. Ensuring their rights requires recognizing their unique identities and addressing systemic barriers. True inclusion and respect for diversity will empower Indigenous persons with disabilities to contribute fully to society, reinforcing the principles of equity and justice.

Pratima Gurung, Chair, National Indigenous Disabled Women Association-Nepal (NIDWAN) / General Secretary for Indigenous Persons with Disabilities Global Network (IPWDGN).

This article is part of the 39^th edition of The Indigenous World, a yearly overview produced by IWGIA that serves to document and report on the developments Indigenous Peoples have experienced. The photo above is of an Indigenous activist Funa-ay Claver, a Bontok Igorot, standing alongside Indigenous youth activists and others. They are protesting against the repressive laws and human rights violations suffered through the actions and projects of the Government of the Philippines and other actors against Indigenous Peoples at President Marcos Jr’s national address on 22 July 2024 in Quezon City, Philippines. The photo was taken by Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas and is the cover of The Indigenous World 2025 where this article is featured. Find The Indigenous World 2025 in full here

Notes and references

^[1] Nicole Ineese-Nash, an Indigenous youth researcher on disability and Indigeneity, please see here: https://findingourpowertogether.com

^[2] Deepika Lams is a Youth Council Member of the Asia Pacific Indigenous Women and Girls with Disabilities Network and is a youth focal person for NIDWAN.

^[3] Siana Leão Guajajara is a young Indigenous Youth with Disability and Co-founder of Accessibilindígena from Brazil.

^[4] United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. “A/HRC/57/47: Indigenous persons with disabilities - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, José Francisco Calí Tzay.” 22 July 2024. https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5747-indigenous-persons-disabilities-report-special-rapporteur

^[5] Arrow and NIDWAN. ”Amplifying voices of women on the nexus of climate change and SRHR in Asia – Nepal.” https://arrow.org.my/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/NIDWANs-Factsheet-Scoping-Study-2023.pdf

^[6] Gurung, Pratima; Stein, Penelope J S; and Stein, Michael Ashley. ” Intersectionality, Indigeneity, and Disability Climate Justice in Nepal.” The Petrie-Flom Center, 29 February 2024. https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2024/02/29/intersectionality-indigeneity-and-disability-climate-justice-in-nepal/

^[7] Stein, Penelope J S et al.” Advancing disability-inclusive climate research and action, climate justice, and climate-resilient development.” The Lancet Planetary Health, Volume 8, Issue 4, e242 - e255. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(24)00024-X/fulltext

^[8] IFIP. “Funding Trend Analysis on Indigenous Peoples Philanthropy.” 2024. https://internationalfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Funding-Trend-Analysis-on-Indigenous-Peoples-Philanthropy-_compressed.pdf

^[9] Asian Development Bank. “Gender Equality and Disability Inclusion: Guidelines to Address the Specific Needs of Women and Girls with Disabilities.” May 2024. https://www.adb.org/publications/gender-equality-disability-inclusion-guidelines

Tags: Youth, Human rights, International Processes