General Assembly Adopts Annual Resolution “Rights Of Indigenous Peoples"

On 19 December 2023, the UN General Assembly adopted without a vote the resolution on “Rights of Indigenous Peoples” (document A/78/477), containing one draft resolution of the same name.

The resolution among other issues:

Urges Governments and the UN system, in cooperation with Indigenous Peoples, to continue implementing appropriate national measures to achieve the ends of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

It urges Member States to implement World Health Assembly resolution 76.16 titled “The health of Indigenous Peoples” and take necessary measures to ensure the rights, protection and safety of Indigenous Peoples.

The Assembly suggests that the Commission on the Status of Women considers in a future session the issue of gender equality and the empowerment of Indigenous women and girls as a priority theme.

It recalls General Assembly resolutions 71/321 and 77/203, whereby the Assembly decided to continue the consideration of possible further measures necessary to enhance the participation of Indigenous Peoples’ representatives and institutions in relevant United Nations meetings on issues affecting them at the seventy-eighth session, as originally requested in resolution 71/321.

The Assembly requested the President of the General Assembly to convene, within existing resources, a high-level event to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of outcome document of the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples in order to raise awareness of the importance of pursuing its objectives.

The Assembly also urges Governments to ensure that Indigenous Peoples shall not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories and that no relocation shall take place without their free, prior and informed consent after agreement on just and fair compensation, with the option of return, where possible.