The Indigenous World 2026: UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)

Written on 22 April 2026. Posted in UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)

The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is a specialized advisory body operating under the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Its mandate encompasses providing guidance to ECOSOC and UN entities on matters concerning Indigenous Peoples, fostering awareness of these issues, coordinating related efforts across the UN system, and advancing the implementation and effectiveness of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Established in 2000, the UNPFII consists of 16 independent experts who serve three-year terms, with the option for one renewal. Eight members are nominated by governments and elected by ECOSOC according to the UN’s regional groupings, while the remaining eight are nominated by Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and appointed by the ECOSOC President. These members represent the seven global socio-cultural regions,^[1] with one seat rotating among Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

The UNPFII addresses a broad range of thematic areas affecting Indigenous Peoples, including culture, education, health, environment, human rights, and economic and social development. It meets annually for 10 working days, providing a space for direct dialogue among Indigenous Peoples, UNPFII members, Member States, UN agencies, academics, NGOs, and other stakeholders. Following its sessions, the UNPFII issues a report with recommendations and draft decisions for submission to ECOSOC.^[2]

This article is part of the 40^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. Find The Indigenous World 2026 in full here

Twenty-Fourth Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

The twenty-fourth session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), held from 21 April to 2 May 2025 at UN Headquarters in New York under the theme of “Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples within UN Member States and the UN system, including identifying good practices and addressing challenges”, was particularly timely as the UNDRIP approaches its 20^th anniversary. Discussions underscored the need to translate global commitments into tangible actions and highlighted the role of multilateralism in advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The discussions emphasized that achieving peace and security for Indigenous Peoples is inseparable from the full implementation of the UNDRIP, which guarantees rights to self-determination, land, culture, and participation in decision-making. The UNPFII stressed that peace cannot be sustained without justice, equality, and respect for Indigenous governance systems.

Impact of armed conflict and colonial legacies

The UNPFII highlighted findings from the study “Impact of colonization and armed conflicts on Indigenous Peoples’ rights: the imperative of peacebuilding”, which revealed ongoing displacement, loss of life, and intergenerational trauma caused by wars and colonial structures. Indigenous Peoples often remain invisible in peace processes, despite being among the most affected. The UNPFII called for States and international actors to integrate Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives into peacebuilding strategies and ensure compliance with the UNDRIP.

Calls for immediate action in conflict zones

In reviewing ongoing challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples, the UNPFII highlighted regions where conflict, instability, and human rights concerns persist, emphasizing the importance of protecting Indigenous Peoples and their territories. It provided specific recommendations for countries experiencing persistent violence. India was urged to restore peace in Manipur and address decades of displacement and trauma. The UNPFII demanded an end to militarization and criminalization in Nicaragua’s Moskitia region and called for the release of arbitrarily detained Indigenous leaders. In Myanmar, ongoing airstrikes and instability following the coup were condemned, with appeals for robust human rights monitoring. Similarly, the UNPFII expressed concern over violence in Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Sudan, urging inclusive peace processes that involve Indigenous Peoples.

Truth, reconciliation, and justice

Truth-telling was identified as a prerequisite for reconciliation and sustainable peace. The UNPFII highlighted with particular concern the disproportionately high incarceration rates of Indigenous children and the violations of international conventions against torture, emphasizing the urgent need for culturally appropriate access to justice. It also encouraged States to document cases of internal colonialism and dismantle structures that perpetuate inequality.

Women and youth in peacebuilding

Indigenous women’s role in peace negotiations was strongly emphasized. Despite being adversely affected by armed conflict and gender-based violence, their contributions to conflict resolution remain overlooked. The UNPFII urged States to ensure Indigenous women’s participation in peace processes and reaffirmed previous calls for the implementation of agreements such as the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in Bangladesh. Indigenous youth engagement was also highlighted as critical for shaping sustainable futures and fostering intergenerational leadership.

Global and regional security concerns

The UNPFII highlighted the unique vulnerabilities of Indigenous Peoples in contexts of armed conflict and regional instability, emphasizing the need for rights-based and inclusive approaches to peace and security. It drew attention to the serious consequences of the Russian aggression in Ukraine on Indigenous Peoples, including conscription and persecution in Crimea, and called for constructive negotiations to achieve a just and durable peace. Additionally, the UNPFII urged States to halt extractive projects that are fuelling conflict and environmental harm, stressing that resource exploitation without free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) undermines peace and security.

The UNPFII reaffirmed that achieving sustainable peace for Indigenous Peoples goes beyond ending hostilities. It requires formal recognition of their rights, inclusion in decision-making, and the dismantling of systemic discrimination. Integrating Indigenous knowledge and leadership into peacebuilding is essential for achieving justice, equity, and lasting stability.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2025

On 8 August 2025, the UN commemorated the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples^[3] under the theme “Indigenous Peoples and AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures”. The virtual event explored how artificial intelligence (AI) intersects with Indigenous rights, emphasizing both opportunities and risks. AI can support language revitalization, cultural preservation, and climate adaptation; however, without safeguards, it risks reinforcing colonial legacies, misappropriating Indigenous knowledge, and deepening digital divides.

Speakers highlighted that decisions on AI are often made without Indigenous Peoples’ participation, raising concerns about data sovereignty and free, prior, and informed consent. Exclusion from governance processes threatens self-determination and justice, while AI-driven extractive industries and data centres near Indigenous lands exacerbate environmental degradation and resource conflicts—issues directly linked to peace and security.

The discussion stressed that technology is never neutral: it can either empower historically marginalized communities or perpetuate inequality. Ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ leadership in AI governance and ethical frameworks is critical to prevent harm and promote inclusive innovation. By embedding Indigenous Peoples’ voices in global technology debates, the event underscored that peace, security, and sustainable futures depend on rights-based approaches to emerging technologies.

International Expert Group Meeting

From 1-3 December 2025, the Indigenous Peoples and Development Branch organized a virtual Expert Group Meeting on a theme recommended by the UNPFII and endorsed by ECOSOC: “Recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ rights in the context of the climate crisis, biodiversity governance and territorial integrity: focusing on nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples, including pastoralists and shifting cultivators”.^[4]

The meeting examined the intersecting dynamics of climate change, biodiversity governance and territorial integrity as they affect Indigenous Peoples, including mobile Indigenous Peoples, and looked at pathways for the recognition and protection of their rights within international legal frameworks, as well as biodiversity and climate change governance, ensuring that Indigenous Peoples’ voices, knowledge, and lifeways are respected and actively integrated into global solutions.

UNPFII Members – 2023-2025

The members of the UNPFII from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025 are as follows: Mr. Vital Bambanze (Burundi), Ms. Tove Søvndahl Gant (Denmark), Mr. Ali Hajilari (Islamic Republic of Iran), Mr. Keith M. Harper (United States of America), Ms. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim (Chad), Ms. Aluki Kotierk (Canada), Ms. Li Nan (China), Mr. Suleiman Mamutov (Ukraine), Mr. Bornface Museke Mate (Namibia), Ms. Hannah McGlade (Australia), Mr. Darío José Mejía Montalvo (Colombia), Ms. Naw Ei Ei Min (Myanmar), Ms. Hanieh Moghani (Islamic Republic of Iran), Mr. Rodrigo Eduardo Paillalef Monnard (Chile), Mr. Geoffrey Roth (United States), Ms. Valentina Vyacheslavovna Sovkina (Russian Federation). More details on the members can be found online.^[5]

This article was written by the Indigenous Peoples and Development Branch/Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (IPDB/SPFII).

This article is part of the 40^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. Find The Indigenous World 2026 in full here

Notes and references

^[1] Africa; the Arctic; Asia; Central and South America and the Caribbean; Eastern Europe, Russian Federation, Central Asia and Transcaucasia; North America; and the Pacific.

^[2] See more at: United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

^[3] United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2025. Accessed 17 November 2025. https://social.desa.un.org/issues/indigenous-peoples/events/IDWIP-2025

^[4] United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ rights in the context of the climate crisis, biodiversity governance and territorial integrity: focusing on nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples, including pastoralists and shifting cultivators. Accessed 5 December 2025. https://social.desa.un.org/issues/indigenous-peoples/events/egm2025

^[5] United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Membership of Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Accessed November 17, 2025. https://social.desa.un.org/issues/indigenous-peoples/unpfii/current-unpfii-members

Tags: Global governance