Distinguished?President of the General Assembly,
His Excellency, Vice-President of Bolivia,
Members of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues?and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,
Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,
Distinguished?representatives of Member States and civil society,
Ladies and gentlemen,??
It is my honour, as the Senior Official of the United Nations system responsible for coordinating the follow-up action for the 2014 World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, to address you at this commemorative event.
Alongside the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or UNDRIP, in 2007, the outcome of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples marks a significant milestone for the engagement of Indigenous Peoples with the international community.
The outcome document of the World Conference expresses a global commitment to implement the UNDRIP. The World Conference also mandated important actions to be taken by the UN system. We have been working diligently to fulfill these mandates through the implementation of the UN System-Wide Action Plan on Indigenous Peoples.
The Indigenous Peoples mechanisms at the UN provide high level and expert advice to various intergovernmental processes and bodies.
The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues advises the Economic and Social Council. The UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples provide expertise and advice to the Human Rights Council, alongside the special procedures and subsidiary organs.
Although these expert bodies have made recommendations to Member States on how to advance commitments to respect and fulfil the rights of indigenous peoples, various challenges to implementation exist at all levels.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The lack of effective participation by Indigenous Peoples in development processes continues to be a major obstacle in advancing efforts at the national level. However, in collaboration with entities of the UN system, some Member States have adopted national action plans and other measures to support the effective implementation of the UNDRIP.
Against this backdrop, I urgently call on Member States to establish concrete measures to recognize and ensure the intrinsic, collective rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the right of self-determination and autonomy, as well as their historical property and cultural rights.
Member States must close the persistent gaps in implementation through targeted interventions that are consistent with Indigenous Peoples¡¯ own laws, customs and traditions. More direct, long-term and predictable funding must also be part of the solution.
Distinguished delegates,
We must ensure that mechanisms are established for the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples in global processes at the United Nations. The perspectives of Indigenous Peoples must be taken into consideration given their critical role in developing sustainable solutions to protect people and planet, and in fostering harmony in our interactions with the environment and with one another.
With these concerted efforts, we can ensure that the commitments made to implement the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples contribute also to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Thank you!