The event aims to bring together current and former mandate holders, Indigenous leaders, government representatives, UN agencies, and experts to reflect on how the mandate has shaped global advocacy and protection efforts. Participants will explore the major accomplishments and contributions of the mandate, celebrate the leadership and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, and highlight the collective efforts that have advanced the recognition of their rights.
Equally important, the event will provide an opportunity to examine ongoing and emerging challenges affecting Indigenous Peoples, and continuing gaps in the implementation of UNDRIP. Understanding these challenges will be essential in shaping forward‑looking strategies that strengthen the mandate’s impact in an increasingly complex global landscape.
Organizer
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
- IWGIA
- Permanent Mission of Mexico
- Permanent Mission of Guatemala
The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples was established by the United Nations Human Rights Commission in 2001 and assumed by the Human Rights Council in 2006 marking a historic advancement in the international protection system for the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The mandate is one of the central mechanisms dedicated to monitoring, documenting, and advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples worldwide.
The year 2026 marks the twenty‑fifth anniversary of the mandate, which is an important milestone that invites reflection on achievements, challenges, and opportunities for the future. This moment provides a unique opportunity to take stock of progress made in advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples while acknowledging the persistent and emerging threats they continue to face. It also offers a space to reaffirm the commitment of States, UN bodies, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples to the mandate and to the broader international human rights framework.
Date: 24 April 2026
UNPFII 2026 session
UN Headquarters, New York, room CR2
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