45th Session of the Human Rights Council

Written on 14 September 2020. Posted in News

The Human Rights Council is the main intergovernmental body within the United Nations system responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe. It therefore plays a pivotal role in the promotion and the protection of Indigenous Peoples’ rights.  Most of the gains achieved by Indigenous Peoples in advancing the recognition of their rights at the international level have been led by the Human Rights Council (or by its predecessor the Commission on Human Rights).

In 2020, the Human Rights Council has two specific mechanisms, with mandates focused on the promotion and protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples: the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, established in 2001 as part of its special procedures mechanism, and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), which serves as an advisory body to the Human Rights Council established in 2007. The main objective in the mandate of each mechanism is to advance the practical implementation of Indigenous Peoples' rights as enshrined in the UNDRIP and each mechanism has adopted the UNDRIP as the international legal framework for the implementation of their specific mandates.

Every year at its September session, the Human Rights Council devotes two sessions of its agenda to consider issues related specifically to Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

During the 45^th session of the Human Rights Council that starts today (14^th September – 2^nd of October, 2020) Indigenous issues will be considered during the following sessions:

• A session will be dedicated to a panel discussion about Indigenous rights defenders, which will take place on the 23^rd of September
• A session dedicated to the presentation of the annual reports of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Chair of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, including their recommendations or advice to the Council. Their presentations are followed by an interactive dialogue with States, International institutions, NGOs.
• The adoption by the Human Rights Council of its annual resolution on indigenous peoples’ rights.

Due to the COVID19 pandemic situation the 45^th session will be a combination of presential and virtual sessions.

To contribute to the discussions, IWGIA has prepared 8 submissions including specific recommendations to the HRC:

1. IWGIA’s submission on the report submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples (English)
2. Joint Submission of Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact and IWGIA on COVID-19 to the OHCHR recognising the specific vulnerabilities of Indigenous Peoples during the COVID-19 pandemic (English)
3. Información adicional preparada por IWGIA sobre el estudio del Mecanismo de Expertos sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas (EMRIP)  (Spanish)
4. Situación de derechos de pueblos indígenas en zonas petroleras del Perú en el contexto COVID 19 (Spanish)
5. Submission on the Report of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (English)
6. Joint submission on the Human Rights Situation of Indigenous Peoples in Cambodia (English)
7. IWGIA's submission on the Congo Brazzaville country report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (English)
8. Joint submission on the situation of the Ogiek to the Human Rights Council's 45th Session (English)