On 23 April 2026, within the framework of the 25th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), the side event “25 Years Advancing Indigenous Peoples’ Rights: Impact, Lessons Learned, and Future of the Special Rapporteur’s Mandate” was held at the UN Headquarters in New York.
On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we focus on a theme that is foundational to the survival, cultural continuity, and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous Midwifery. For Indigenous Peoples, traditional midwives, healers, and medicine women are far more than healthcare providers; they are the primary knowledge holders and transmitters of language, culture,… Read More »
GENEVA – UN experts* today expressed concern over the arrest and detention of five Indigenous human rights defenders in Assam, warning that the charges against them could undermine the legitimate work of those defending Indigenous Peoples’ rights in the context of business activities. “We are deeply concerned by reports that Indigenous human rights defenders have been… Read More »
GENEVA – UN experts* today warned that Venezuela is facing a catastrophe that is dramatically exacerbating the vulnerabilities of the population and worsening the human rights and humanitarian crises the country has endured for years in the aftermath of the 24 June earthquakes. “Given the magnitude of the tragedy, civil society has taken on an indispensable… Read More »
GENEVA – UN experts* today expressed dismay at the death in custody of Indigenous Miskitu leader and lawmaker Brooklyn Rivera, and the allegations of enforced disappearance of seven members of his family who had come to claim his remains. “It is outrageous that repeated warnings and calls for protection have gone unheeded. We consider it an… Read More »
GENEVA – UN human rights experts* today expressed deep concern over the resurgence of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, warning that the deadly virus predominantly impacts Indigenous Peoples. “Declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organisation, the Ebola outbreak is most prominent within… Read More »
GENEVA – UN experts* today hailed the adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution welcoming the unanimous Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on States’ obligations on climate change. “The General Assembly resolution regarding the Court’s Opinion is vital to ensuring justice and the rule of law globally,” the experts said. The resolution is particularly… Read More »
GENEVA – UN experts* today called on the Government of Tanzania to immediately publish the findings of two presidential commissions examining land-use dynamics and their sustainability and relocation policies in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), amid escalating concerns over the rights and future of Indigenous Peoples. “We are alarmed that these reports, commissioned in February 2025,… Read More »
GENEVA – Independent human rights experts* today urged Member States which are committed to prioritising human rights defenders and civil society space to stand in the upcoming elections for the Committee of Non-Governmental Organisations (the “NGO Committee”), a body of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Ahead of the April elections, they issued the following statement:… Read More »
GENEVA – UN experts* today expressed deep concern over credible reports of a rapid deterioration of civic space affecting Indigenous Peoples and human rights defenders in Ecuador. “Indigenous Peoples are essential to Ecuador’s stability and economic future. Authorities must urgently ensure accountability for any excessive use of force and acts of persecution, and create conditions… Read More »
Purpose: Seeking information in preparation of the upcoming country visit to Australia The Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples is seeking information in preparation of his upcoming country visit to Australia scheduled to take place from 2 to 13 November 2026. Deadline: 20 March 2026
GENEVA – UN experts* today urged States to ensure that any new regulations governing the deep seabed, including a code on mining, are firmly grounded in international law, including international human rights law, and implement the precautionary principle. “The deep seabed is not an industrial frontier, it is one of the most fragile and least… Read More »
Purpose: To inform the 2026 thematic report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, on demarcation, registration and titling of Indigenous Peoples’ lands, territories and resources, to be presented at the UN General Assembly.
The Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples is seeking information in preparation of his upcoming thematic report to the 63rd Session of the Human Rights Council. Deadline: 20 February 2026 Background The principles of “Recognition, Reparation, and Reconciliation” are foundational for the interpretation and application of the UN Declaration on the Rights of… Read More »
GENEVA – On the third anniversary of the enforced disappearance of Ricardo Lagunes and Antonio Díaz, UN experts* demanded immediate answers about the fate and whereabouts of the two Mexican human rights defenders. “Mexican authorities must comply with the State’s international obligations, including by investigating the enforced disappearance, proactively searching for them, determining their fate… Read More »
