The Indigenous World 2025: Global Indigenous Youth Caucus (GIYC)

Written on 25 April 2025. Posted in Indigenous Youth

“Deseamos la pervivencia de los saberes ancestrales que tienen que ver con el cuidado de la Madre Tierra, la paz, el derecho a la vida, y las garantías de vivir con dignidad”

“We wish for the continuation of our ancestral knowledge that is related to the protection of Mother Earth, peace, the right to life and guarantees of living with dignity”

 Cristina Bautista, Young Nasa from Colombia.

From the heart of our land and territories to the UN rooms and halls of global decision-making, we, Indigenous Youth, are fighting for our rights as Indigenous Peoples. Our voices are increasingly being heard as we contribute to the protection of Mother Earth. Nonetheless, it is crucial to remember that international forums have not been opened without the strength and work of those behind us.

In this context, Indigenous Youth are participating more actively not only because it is our right but because we have fought for those spaces. This is demonstrated by our proactive and solution-oriented approach to collective dialogue. Indigenous Youth fosters solutions that efficiently rethink and address the global challenges, such as the triple planetary crisis, sovereignty and food security.

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

Role of the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus in the international Indigenous Peoples’ movement

The Global Indigenous Youth Caucus (GIYC)^[1] is the only Indigenous Youth-led constituency of the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth.^[2] The GIYC is a distinctive space because it gathers Indigenous Youth together globally, from each of the seven socio-cultural regions. GIYC promotes collective participation in various international forums to create a unified movement. Recognized by the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), the GIYC collaborates with key mechanisms such as the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to promote Indigenous Youth rights.

Many Indigenous Youth delegates face challenges in understanding the international mechanisms and methods of work, including language barriers and legal jargon. In response, Indigenous Youth have begun recording their experiences and developing their own training materials, such as manuals^[3] and tools tailored for Indigenous Youth. GIYC serves as a school, providing a space for capacity-building, mentoring, empowerment and inter- and intra-generational dialogue. It enables us to share knowledge and experience with newcomers, strengthen the Indigenous Youth movement, work in solidarity and hold the UN system accountable. Through this platform, the GIYC ensures the continuity of leadership of the Indigenous Peoples and engagement in global decision-making processes.

Indigenous Youth at the UNPFII

In April 2024, the 23^rd Session of the UNPFII centered its annual theme on “Enhancing Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination in the context of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: emphasizing the voices of Indigenous Youth”. The theme promoted the views and experience of youth. It was a recognition that Indigenous Youth must be involved if we are to create a more just and sustainable future. Indigenous Youth are active, loud and, together, form a dynamic movement; and we are demanding a seat at the table.

The thematic session allowed for a high level of participation of Indigenous Youth. They participated through their youth-led organizations, as part of the delegation of Indigenous organizations, and even within Member State delegations.

The GIYC was at the heart of this movement. As a general practice, a day before the UNPFII, we organized a preparatory session to strategize and unite. Every day during the UNPFII, we held early meetings to agree on draft recommendations for the consideration of the UNPFII, which were delivered during the plenary sessions. These statements ensured that our demands were clear, realistic and action-oriented. As a democratic body, the GIYC also demonstrated its commitment to youth leadership by electing new representatives, including three co-chairs and around 24 regional focal points, ensuring that the diverse voices of Indigenous Youth worldwide were well-represented.

By addressing the 2024 theme of the session, the UNPFII marked an important step in amplifying the voices of Indigenous Youth and reaffirming the right to self-determination. High-level Indigenous leaders, such as Bolivia’s Vice-President, Mr. David Choquehuanca, and Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Ms Sonia Guajajara, stood alongside the voices of Indigenous Youth, signaling a growing recognition of Indigenous governance and the urgent need for self-determined futures.

During the session, the GIYC was very active. We spoke about the importance of Indigenous Knowledge, intergenerational leadership, and the cultural foundations of autonomy – values that are not just abstract ideas but the very fabric of our lives. We pushed for strong recommendations on the revitalization of Indigenous Languages, political participation, and culturally relevant education, addressing the systemic barriers that Indigenous Youth face every single day.

In the report of the 23^rd session, the UNPFII highlighted the growing leadership of Indigenous Youth in tackling the pressing challenges of our time. In this spirit, the Forum welcomed the Indigenous Youth Rome Declaration 2023 on Safeguarding Seven Generations in Times of Food, Social, and Ecological Crisis,^[4] a powerful statement emerging from the second UN Global Indigenous Youth Forum, co-organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the GIYC.

Recognizing that real change must be rooted in the voices of Indigenous Youth from all corners of the world, the UNPFII recommended that the FAO create a space to engage directly with communities by holding regional consultations across the seven Indigenous socio-cultural regions, as regional preparatory dialogues.^[5] These discussions, set to take place before the third UN Global Indigenous Youth Forum in 2025, will be an opportunity to deepen Indigenous Youth participation in shaping global policies and influence in decision-making at the highest levels. Additionally, the GIYC emphasized the need for greater Indigenous Youth representation in global decision-making across the UN system. Acknowledging the critical role young Indigenous leaders play in shaping the future, the UNPFII called on UN entities to strengthen and expand opportunities for their engagement across all UN processes. Particularly, the GIYC indicated the importance of creating an Advisory Group to the UNPFII, co-coordinated with the GIYC to strengthen an intergenerational exchange within UNPFII. Finally, the GIYC recommended the creation of initiatives that go beyond symbolic inclusion, advocating for capacity building programs and knowledge exchange platforms that empower Indigenous Youth across the UN system to ensure we have a direct voice in shaping policies that impact our communities and the world.

While these discussions were important, much work remains to translate commitments into tangible action. A year has passed, and Indigenous Youth are still fighting against discrimination, political exclusion, and threats to their mental well-being. Education systems remain underfunded, and culturally appropriate learning spaces are not yet fully met. Additionally, the lack of environmental measures directly linked to Indigenous Youth advocacy is a missed opportunity, as Indigenous Youth are at the forefront of climate action and biodiversity conservation.

Strengthening food sovereignty: Indigenous Youth contribution

The 2024 World Food Forum (WFF), held at FAO headquarters from 14-18 October, brought together global leaders and experts in food systems. Among the highlights was the participation of the GIYC,^[6] Indigenous Youth who engaged in speaking sessions, youth assemblies, and discussions at the Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems, located in the NOMAD Indigenous FoodLab. The GIYC delegation included representatives from 14 countries and diverse Indigenous communities worldwide.

The GIYC participated and collaborated in the work of the Youth Policy Board of the WFF. The roundtable discussions with the Youth Policy Board aimed to gather input from diverse youth leaders, helping shape and guide the priorities and strategies for the Global Youth Action Plan 2025-2026, putting Indigenous Youth at the center with the creation of an intergenerational Indigenous Knowledge campaign. These conversations provided a platform for young people to share their perspectives, experiences, and innovative ideas, ensuring that the upcoming action plan is inclusive, effective, and responsive to the needs and aspirations of youth worldwide. Finally, one of the GIYC co-chairs was recognized as a World Food Hero^[7] for her work with Indigenous Women and Youth on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems.

Indigenous Youth engagement in biodiversity conservation

The GIYC and the Red de Juventudes Indígenas de América Latina y el Caribe^[8] organized the “Training Workshop: Indigenous Youth as Guardians of Biodiversity”. The workshop provided information on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and created a space in preparation for the 16^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16). The workshop brought together 186 Indigenous Youth from 30 countries. The workshop was attended by Ms Susana Muhamad González, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia; Ms Sonia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil and Mr. David Cooper, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This workshop led to the creation of a policy paper that was presented to the COP16 presidency and the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity.

The KMGBF emphasizes the crucial role of Indigenous Peoples in the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of biological diversity.^[9] From the perspective of Indigenous Youth, its implementation must respect and preserve Indigenous Knowledge related to biodiversity, innovations, worldview, values ​​and practices, ensuring Free, Prior and Informed Consent.

In this context, Indigenous Youth have emerged as important voices in the promotion of self-determination and the conservation of biodiversity in our territories, being clear that the strengthening and transmission of Indigenous Knowledge is positively related to the protection and conservation of the territory and its ecosystems, which in turn favors health, due to the existence of an intrinsic relationship between all the elements existing in our territories.

At COP16, in Cali, three Indigenous Youth were presented as “ad-hoc ambassadors” for the World Coalition for Peace with Nature by the COP16 presidency,^[10] one of them a member of Red de Jóvenes Indígenas de América Latina y el Caribe. These young ambassadors will amplify efforts to protect nature, providing fresh insights and energy to the cause.

Conclusion

Indigenous Youth are not waiting for the world to catch up. Through the GIYC and various Indigenous Youth organizations, we are ensuring that Indigenous voices remain central in global policy discussions. From advocating for climate justice to securing land rights, Indigenous Youth are leading the change for transformative change. As we continue to push for the collective right to self-determination and meaningful inclusion, we are shaping the future of global decision-making and ensuring our rightful place in the movement for a just and sustainable world.

Kantuta Conde is a young Indigenous woman from the Aymara Nation of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. She is one of the Co-chairs of the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus (GIYC) and member of the Coordinating Committee of the Red de Juventudes Indígenas de América Latina y el Caribe (RED-LAC).

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] Global Indigenous Youth Caucus website: https://www.globalindigenousyouthcaucus.org/

^[2] United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth. “Human Rights.” https://www.unmgcy.org/human-rights.

^[3] Red de Juventudes Indígenas. “Manual para Jóvenes Indígenas sobre sus derechos territoriales.” https://www.reddejovenesindigenas.com/publicaciones.

^[4] United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. ”Rome Declaration on Safeguarding Seven Generations in Times of Food, Social, and Ecological Crisis.” 2023. https://social.desa.un.org/sites/default/files/EN_2023%20Rome%20Declaration%20on%20Safeguarding%20Seven%20Generations%20in%20times%20of%20Food%2C%20Social%20and%20Ecological%20Crisis.pdf.

^[5] United Nations Economic and Social Council. “Report of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on Its Twenty-Third Session.” 2024. Paragraph 43. https://docs.un.org/en/E/2024/43.

^[6] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. “‘Making our voices heard’: Indigenous Youth take the stage at the 2024 World Food Forum.” 12 December 2024. https://www.fao.org/indigenous-peoples/news/detail/making-our-voices-heard---indigenous-youth-take-the-stage-at-the-2024-world-food-forum/en.

^[7] Interview with Judy Kipkenda. https://www.fao.org/world-food-day/food-heroes/detail/judy-kipkenda/en.

^[8] Red de Jóvenes Indígenas de Latino América y el Caribe website: https://www.reddejovenesindigenas.com/

^[9] Convention on Biological Diversity. “Decision COP 15/4: Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.” 2023. https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-15/cop-15-dec-04-en.pdf.

^[10] El Tiempo. “Los jóvenes serán los embajadores ad hoc de la coalición de paz con la naturaleza.” 10 December 2024. https://www.eltiempo.com/vida/medio-ambiente/los-jovenes-seran-los-embajadores-ad-hoc-de-la-coalicion-de-paz-con-la-naturaleza-3394230

Tags: Youth, Global governance, International Processes