Purpose: Seeking information in preparation of the upcoming country visit to Botswana Background The Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples is seeking information in preparation of his upcoming country visit to Botswana which will take place from 1 to 10 September 2025. Pursuant to his mandate established by the Human Rights Council, the… Read More »
Being Invited as Special Rapporteur to attend human rights dialogues by Indigenous Peoples in Papua, Poco Leok, and Bogor, in Indonesia (3 to 11 July, 2025) revealed the need to engage Governments more on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as an instrument devised to reconcile States with their Indigenous… Read More »
Statement by the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples “Hate speech is a crime, not commentary”. UN Expert Condemns post targeting of Indigenous Peoples 10 JULY 2025 As United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, I express my strong condemnation and deep indignation against a post on X (previously Twitter)… Read More »
GENEVA – A UN expert today expressed grave concern about Brazil’s continued use of the controversial “Marco Temporal” legal interpretation to revoke the legal foundation for indigenous land demarcation and annul the demarcation of indigenous territories in Santa Catarina. “This legislative move enforces the discredited ‘Marco Temporal’ doctrine, which restricts Indigenous land rights to territories… Read More »
GENEVA – A UN expert* today expressed grave concern over the ongoing land demarcation by the Government of Kenya in the Eastern Mau Complex, which threatens ancestral lands of the Ogiek Peoples and contravenes binding judgments of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR). “These actions risk causing irreparable harm to the Ogiek’s… Read More »
GENEVA – Two independent human rights experts on torture and indigenous peoples respectively* today sharply criticised state and territory youth justice systems in Australia, where disproportionately large numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continue to be jailed. “The various criminal legal systems operating in Australia appear to be in crisis nationwide,” said Alice Jill Edwards,… Read More »
Statement of Dr. Albert Kwokwo Barume Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the Meeting with the European Parliament Sub-committee on Human Rights Brussels 14 May 2025 Introduction Esteemed Members of the European Parliament It is an honour to be able to address you and let me start by commending the EU and… Read More »
Dr Albert K. Barume, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, explains the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2007, and critical issues shared by Indigenous Peoples around the world. The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the United Nations… Read More »
Statement by Dr. Albert Barume, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Distinguished Commissioners, Excellencies Ministers and Governments officials Delegates, ladies and gentlemen It is a great honour for… Read More »
Statement of Dr. Albert Kwokwo Barume Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples At the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 24th Session Agenda Item 5(d) New York 28 April 2025 Chairperson of the Permanent Forum, Chairperson et members of the Expert Mechanism, Distinguished Members of the Permanent Forum, Assistant-Secretary-General for Human Rights,… Read More »
Joint Letter by the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, April 2025 In our capacity as Expert Members of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of… Read More »
From April 21 to May 2, 2025, the 24th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This annual international event serves as a key platform for indigenous representatives, Member States, UN agencies, and civil society organizations to discuss strategies aimed at… Read More »
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), adopted in 2007 after more than two decades of negotiations, stands as one of the most significant documents in contemporary international law. Its importance lies not only in the recognition of historically denied collective and cultural rights but also in its potential to reshape… Read More »
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples has welcomed the recent Direct Request of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which represent a significant step forward in protecting the traditional occupations of Indigenous Peoples in Indonesia. The Committee’s observations… Read More »
GENEVA – Ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a group of UN experts issued the following joint statement: “The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination offers a particular opportunity this year as we mark the 60th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD, the… Read More »
