Mr. President,

I am honored to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of Friends of Indigenous Peoples.

We are encouraged by the significant attention given to Indigenous Peoples' issues during the 78th session of the General Assembly. From the substantive discussions at the Permanent Forum to the important negotiations on enhanced participation, we are heartened by the progress made. We trust that the same dedication will carry through into the 79th session, as it certainly will from the Group of Friends.

However, despite these noteworthy achievements, we acknowledge that significant work remains. Thankfully, our path is clear: in 2007, this General Assembly adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This landmark document remains the most comprehensive framework for Indigenous Peoples' rights. It establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity, and well-being of Indigenous Peoples and elaborates on existing human rights standards.

The task is not easy. Recent global events have spotlighted a range of pre-existing challenges faced by the majority of the world’s Indigenous Peoples. Worldwide, Indigenous Peoples face high rates of marginalization and are three times more likely to live in extreme poverty.

Indigenous women and girls endure intersecting forms of violence and discrimination, exacerbating the inequalities and vulnerabilities they face.

The rate of disability among Indigenous Peoples is higher because of many factors, including dangerous working conditions, lower standards of living, and the poor quality of the medical services available to them.

Advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples also requires the protection of Indigenous land and human rights defenders, particularly those who work on environmental issues and indigenous leaders, who are all too often subjected to intimidation, threats, violence, and other abuses, including killings. Their contributions are integral to the implementation of the Declaration.

Mr. President,

Addressing systemic issues requires the direct involvement of those most affected. In this regard, we stress the importance of continuing the process to enhance the participation of Indigenous Peoples’ representatives and institutions in the United Nations on matters that concern them. We appreciate the leadership of Peru and Canada in the 78th session, and while the conversation will continue in a year, we encourage all delegations chairing a Committee or facilitating a resolution to consider how these topics affect Indigenous Peoples and the many ways we can learn from them. We will not find a way to enhance participation by avoiding it; we can only achieve it through dialogue.

In this regard, we commend Member States to enhance the protection of Indigenous Peoples through recognition and autonomy, in line with the Declaration, by revising legal and policy frameworks. 

Colleagues,

Let us always remember that our strength lies in our diversity. To listen is to learn.
Thank you.