High Level Political Forum (HLPF 2019 

Statement of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group (IPMG)

July 9, 2019

 

WHO IS AT RISK TO BE LEFT BEHIND

As we are now in the 4^thyear  for the SDG implementation, Indigenous Peoples need concrete and targeted actions on the ground in line with the pledge of leaving no one behind:

1. For States to fully implement their human rights obligations including the recognition and protection of the right to land, territories and resources of indigenous peoples
2. For States to establish effective mechanisms for sustained engagement, participation and inclusion of indigenous peoples; develop  and implement appropriate measure and programmes to address their specific needs including indigenous women and their aspirations for sustainable development with sufficient resources; and to conduct data -disaggregation by sex and ethnicity
3. For UN agencies, funds and programs  as well as other development actors to strengthen their efforts to reach out to indigenous peoples at all levels and  establish partnerships to support their self-determined development and wellbeing under a rights-based approach to sustainable development 

There are more than 370 million indigenous peoples  which is 5 % of the global population but 15 % of the poorest.  In particular indigenous women experience multiple layers of discrimination as women and as indigenous peoples. The intersection of gender, ethnicity and poverty  renders them more vulnerable to oppression, exploitation, abuse and violence due to the prevalence of patriarchal system   and the continuing violations of indigenous peoples’ collective rights. The overwhelming reality of discrimination of and continued violence faced by indigenous women in particular and of indigenous peoples in general illustrates that they are extremely lagging behind in achieving the SDGs.  The increasing land dispossession including forced eviction of indigenous peoples, the alarming incidents of criminalization of indigenous men and women, and the increasing conflicts and violence in indigenous territories; and the lack of access to justice  are all  contrary to the pledge of leaving no one behind and are even pushing them behind.

While indigenous peoples manage 80 % of the global biodiversity with their conservation and sustainable resource management systems of which indigenous women play a vital role, this is not  fully taken into account in ensuring that the they protected and supported.  In fact, indigenous peoples continue to be sacrificed directly  or taken as collateral damage when states and business pursue their economic development plans without regard to the rights and wellbeing of indigenous peoples including indigenous women.  The business as usual and top down approach  remain dominant in the implementation of the SDGs which is only worsening the inequality, exclusion and discrimination of indigenous peoples with disproportionate impacts to indigenous women.

 

Statement on the Regional Road Map Joan Carling Indigenous Peoples' Major Group The Indigenous Peoples Major Group (IPMG) welcomes the Regional Road Map Report on the SDGs. Under the theme of " leaving no one behind" the reports states "Despite high and enduring economic growth and significant progress in terms of poverty eradication, inequality persists in the Asia-Pacific region, and in some instances has intensified. Growing disparities in income and wealth, as well as inequality of opportunity, disproportionately affect women and vulnerable groups". At the same time, the report also refers to encouraging progress in terms of implementing thirty-six global means of implementation targets in the leaving no one behind priority area of cooperation. What we believe as areas for improvement in the report is also to provide the underlying factors on the growing disparities in income, wealth and inequality of opportunities among others. Addressing the underlying factors and barriers should then be included as recommendations in advancing the SDGs and not limited to accelerating implementation of the other targets. We also wish to draw attention to the continuing general reference to vulnerable groups as those left behind. Unless we clearly identify these groups and ensure the protection of their rights, as well as their meaningful participation in designing specific measures and programmes to address their specific conditions, needs and priorities, we will not be able to achieve the overarching goal of leaving no one behind. Participatory monitoring and reporting with data-disaggregation by sex, age, ethnicity and abilities is needed to measure gaps and progress on their inclusion. For Indigenous peoples across the region, we insist that we need to be identified as indigenous peoples and not just part of the vulnerable group. 2/3 of the world's indigenous peoples of more than 400 million are in Asia, majority remains poor, and our rights are systematically violated particularly our rights to our lands and resources which are targeted for economic growth and development. We are even criminalized when we defend our rights, and we have no access to justice. These are the underlying factors of why we are not just left behind but are being pushed behind further. At the same time, our contributions to sustainable development thru conservation and sustainable resource management among others are not acknowledged and are even undermined. We thereby urgently request a regional mechanism to identify those left behind and to address their specific concerns and inclusion in the SDGs thru the regional roadmap process. In particular, this regional mechanism should provide avenues for those left behind to present their views and report in terms of gaps, progress and challenges in their inclusion in achieving the SDGs under the theme of leaving no one behind as one of the priority areas of the regional roadmap. Thank you for your attention.

Download the document to read IPMG's Statement presented at the Global Land Forum held in Nairobi.

Statement of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group (IPMG) 

Unsustainable development practices such as excessive extraction, diversion and damming of major water systems, have disproportionately impacted Indigenous peoples. Often times these activities are facilitated by the forced displacement of Indigenous Peoples, and the loss of ecological habitats important for their resilient economies and lifeways. Industrial pollution of watersheds threaten, or have already destroyed, what remains of water resources within Indigenous lands and territories; in many cases carrying intergenerational impacts as exposure to contaminated water affects the reproductive health of Indigenous women. These activities result in the continued cultural, physical and ethnic genocide of Indigenous Peoples. As such, Indigenous Peoples around the globe continue to find their communities on the frontlines in the struggle for access to, and protection of, clean drinking water, while also leading in the development of integrated and holistic management of finite freshwater ecosystems to foster sustainable and resilient societies.

Download the Statement. 

 

 UN High Level Political Forum

Un Headquarters in New York

July 9-18,2018

IPMG STATEMENT ON THE MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION: GOAL 17

The means of implementation should take into account the historical and unjust plunder of indigenous peoples lands, territories and resources of indigenous peoples, which is one of the main reason why we are marginalized and furthest left behind. Colonization and corporate greed have bled us   and disempowered us from being stewards of the planet for the future generation. The historical debt of industrialized nations and corporations to indigenous peoples within their countries and in their former colonies warrant decisive actions for just compensation, restitution and regeneration through the provision of adequate financial and other forms of appropriate resources and accountability to indigenous peoples to address this historical legacy.

Further, indigenous peoples are systematically discriminated in having adequate and appropriate social services such as education, health, energy, basic infrastructures, housing and employment which are the obligations of states to its citizens. We thereby recommend for the allocation of adequate funds and resources and engagement with indigenous peoples for participatory planning and to develop specific and targeted measure to ensure that indigenous peoples are not left behind. 

Download the document to read the full statement.

IPMG Statement:

SDG 11 – Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Today, there are approximately 370 million Indigenous Peoples living in 90 countries worldwide. Indigenous Peoples constitute about 5% of the world population yet are overrepresented in almost every poor measure of modern life. In settled nations such as Australia, Canada and the United States, the majority – as much as 71% - live in metropolitan areas.

Whether through displacement, migration or settler intrusion on our homelands, Indigenous people have been separated from country and each other.

 Download the whole statement.

This is the VNR report of Mali from the perspective of indigenous peoples.

In our opinion, all of the SDGs are at a very low level of implementation in Mali, and in most cases almost zero in many parts of the country, particularly in the North and Center. It is in these regions that the majority of the indigenous communities in Mali and/or vulnerable pastoral communities live. Access to school due to insecurity is on a very worrying scale, especially for girls who experience forced and early marriages due to the resistance cultural barriers.

Read more of the report. Download the document.

Review of the SDG Implementation

SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Statement from the Indigenous Peoples’ Major Group 

 

These are the recommendations for the Voluntary National Review of the countries in Latin America specifically the following:

Colombia

Ecuador

Paraguay

Mexico

Download the document to read the review > English

Checkout the Spanish version here > FILAC

 

STATEMENT OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES MAJOR GROUP 

GOAL 12:  Responsible Production and Consumption

Indigenous peoples across the globe are keepers of lands, territories and resources which they have conserve and manage sustainably for our collective survival and for the future generation. Indigenous Peoples’ have the least carbon footprint and our ecological economies thrive with our practice of sustainable traditional occupations that also embodies our diverse cultures, identities and distinct ways of life. Our production and consumption system is guided by our values of sharing, mutual cooperation, reciprocity and conservation and regeneration for the future generation.

Download the whole document.

 

 

Statement for Interactive Dialogue – SDG 7 Event

The Indigenous Peoples Major Group to the SDGs would like to make a contribution to this discussion, and call for stronger rights-based policies related to SDG 7.

While representing only 5% of the global population, indigenous peoples make up a staggering one third of the world’s 900 million extremely poor rural people. Given that the rural poor form the bulk of those without access to energy, indigenous people are a critical demographic that needs to be put at the centre of the global dialogue on energy if SDG 7 on ensuring access to energy for all is to be achieved. 

Despite this fact, indigenous peoples suffer invisibility when it comes to energy access. There is little disaggregated data on indigenous peoples’ access to. Major reports from initiatives aligned with SDG 7 either don’t mention, or only superficially refer to, indigenous peoples and fail to examine their unique challenges as a distinct group. 

At the same time, indigenous territories host renewable energy projects without meaningful consultation and consent by indigenous peoples and in violation to their rights to their lands and resources. These projects have resulted in conflicts, displacements, destruction of livelihoods, and have violated indigenous peoples’ rights and undermined their self-determined development. Those who have spoken out against these projects have at times been threatened or murdered. 

It is thereby imperative that the implementation of Goal 7 is guided by clear policies on the respect and protection of human rights, ensure equitable benefits for communities, and mechanisms for participation and inclusion of indigenous peoples and marginalized groups in the planning (including decision-making), implementation and monitoring. This will also ensure that the interlinkages of Goal 7 with other Goals for positive outcomes will be achieved such as Goals 1,2, 5, 10, 13, 17 among others in the context of “ leaving no one behind”.

Thus, activities to implement SDG 7 affecting indigenous peoples should adhere to existing international human rights laws and norms relating to indigenous peoples. The two main international instruments that explicitly define indigenous peoples’ rights under international law, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the ILO Convention No. 169, should guide sustainable energy related activities.

Given these significant challenges and also opportunities, the Indigenous Peoples’ Major Group on the SDGs is developing an indigenous peoples-led and rights-based the multi-stakeholder partnership called Right Energy Partnership (REP) with indigenous peoples in order to:

• Empower indigenous communities in their self-determined sustainable development, through access to appropriate renewable energy ensuring equitable and inclusive benefits for communities
• Ensure the protection of rights to prevent the adverse impacts of renewable energy development on indigenous communities; and
• Strengthen knowledge exchange, solidarity and collaboration between indigenous peoples and other actors to contribute towards the goals of the Partnership.

We call on actors in the room today to join us in this innovative and rights-based partnership to achieve Goal 7 and related goals in achieving sustainable development for indigenous peoples in line with the pledge of “leaving no one behind”.

We would be happy to share more information,  and invite you to a consultation on the Partnership that will take place on Thursday 19 April between 1:15-2:30 in Conference Room S-2725 BR on the 27^th Floor.

 

Contact person:

Joan Carling

Focal Person/Convenor

Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development

Website: www.indigenouspeoples-sdg.org

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July 18, 2017

Of the 44 VNR countries, 24 countries have indigenous peoples who are the furthest left behind. However, most of the VNR reports from these countries did not make explicit reference to indigenous peoples in achieving the SDGs at the local and national levels.

Likewise, while some states did consultations with civil society organizations such as in Bostwana, they only included big umbrella organizations, which do not represent indigenous peoples according to Mr. Keikabile Mogodu of the indigenous San community. Tahal Thami expressed his frustration that while indigenous leaders participated in consultation process, there is no recognition of indigenous peoples as distinct group who represent approximately 37% of the total population in Nepal. Additionally, the views and recommendations of Nepal’s indigenous peoples were not reflected in the national development plan or the report of the government of Nepal. Inter-connected to the situation concerning consultations and active engagement. Ms. Tarcila Rivera, an indigenous expert and leader stressed the continuing discrimination of indigenous peoples in the development process in Peru.

United Nations High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

UN Headquarters, 10 – 19 July, 2017

Session 6

Thematic review

Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world:

Multi-stakeholder perspectives

Tuesday, 11 July 2017, 15.00-18.00, Conference Room 4

 Delivered by Ms. Patricia Wattimena, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples’ Major Group

Indigenous women face multiple discrimination factors and dis-empowerment due to the intersectionality of their status as women, as indigenous and as poor. They are victims of discriminatory policies and the prevailing patriarchal system of most indigenous institutions resulting in all forms of violence and exclusion in decision-making processes. Indigenous women have less access to education, health services and employment, among others. Further, militarization and conflicts are exacerbating the vulnerability of indigenous women to violence.

As indigenous peoples of the Pacific we believe that beyond every horizon lies undiscovered opportunities and solutions. 

This fed our thirst for exploring and what made us become known as the way finders, the greatest explorers of the ocean.

There is lack of data on indigenous peoples’ health and social conditions as well as lack of information, analysis, and evaluation of programmes and services to address these. A report of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues noted that “Indigenous peoples face a myriad of obstacles when accessing public health systems. These include the lack of health facilities in indigenous communities and cultural differences with the health care providers such as differences in languages, illiteracy and lack of understanding of indigenous culture and traditional health care systems. There is also an absence of adequate health insurance or lack of economic capacity to pay for services if it is available.”  The health and wellbeing of indigenous peoples is also linked to the overall condition of their natural environment and condition of impoverishment.

The Indigenous Peoples Major Group (IPMG) underlines that the recognition and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples to their lands, territories and resources is central to eradicating poverty and ensuring that indigenous peoples are not left behind in the 2030 Agenda.  This is one of the main lessons learned in the implementation of the MDGs in the context of acknowledging the multi-dimensions of poverty.