UN Human Rights Council
Intersessional meeting for Dialogue and Cooperation on Human Rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
“Human Rights and the 2030 Agenda: Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”
January 16, Palais des Nations, Geneve, Switzerland
Statement of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development (IPMG)
Presented by Joan Carling, co-convenor of the IPMG
The Indigenous Peoples’ Major Group for Sustainable Development wish to highlight the continuing huge gap in the recognition, protection and realization of the collective rights of Indigenous peoples affirmed by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and other International Human Rights Instruments in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. We are NOT only being left behind but are being pushed behind with the continuing violation of our rights, particularly to our land rights through wide spread land and resources expropriation and destruction of our territories resulting to never-ending conflicts; the criminalization of our traditional occupations and sustainable livelihood, vilification, arrest and extra judicial killing of indigenous land and environment defenders, among others. These alarming violations are taking place with impunity in many countries, undermining our critical role and contributions in the conservation and enhancement of the world’s biodiversity, sustainable food production and management of resources which are all critical in achieving the SDGs. Likewise, indigenous peoples continue to experience systemic discrimination and marginalization in relation to access to justice, appropriate health services, quality education, employment, and other social services.
Building the synergies between human rights and SDG implementation requires the effective participation and inclusion of rights-holders as decision-makers and development actors particularly those left behind— the indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, women, children, poor farmers and workers, LGBTIQ; to be underpinned by the legal recognition and protection of their rights; addressing their specific condition, needs and wellbeing through targeted programmes; and enhancing their vital roles and contributions to sustainable development. It requires political will and coherent actions in implementing the human rights obligations and commitments of States-- from the development and effective implementation of national policies, to effective participatory planning, implementation and monitoring mechanisms; resource mobilization and budget allocation; and the establishment of effective accountability and access to justice mechanisms from the local to global levels. Concerted and transformational actions to uphold human rights and to eliminate systemic barriers to achieve accountability, democracy, equality, non- discrimination, climate and social justice are urgently needed in realizing sustainable development for all.
Indigenous peoples shall continue to promote and defend our rights and are committed to partnerships at all levels in advancing human rights in the 2030 Agenda.
