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On 26 November 2025, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution on the International Day for Indigenous Women and Girls (A/80/L.11), to be commemorated every 5 September.
This decision reflects the shared understanding that symbolic and practical actions work together to advance the rights and well-being of Indigenous Peoples. While observances alone do not immediately transform living conditions, the Day can play a vital role in generating global visibility for the leadership, contributions, and challenges faced by Indigenous Women and Girls. Such visibility contributes to shaping public awareness, strengthening advocacy, and mobilizing long-term political attention and resources.
By establishing this International Day, the international community upholds key standards such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the 2014 Outcome Document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, CEDAW General Recommendation No. 39 on the rights of Indigenous Women and Girls, as well as recommendations from UN mechanisms related to Indigenous Peoples (UNPFII, EMRIP, and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples). These frameworks guide collective efforts to address inequalities, prevent violence and discrimination, and ensure the full participation of Indigenous Women and Girls in decisions that affect their lives.
Together with the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on 9 August, this new observance further elevates global attention to the rights and priorities of Indigenous Peoples and amplifies issues that require sustained visibility and action throughout the year.
Many Member States and UN entities are already taking steps to support the rights of Indigenous Women and Girls. However, these efforts remain insufficient. Broader, more coordinated, and sustained actions are needed to address persistent gaps and advance tangible progress.
Member States, UN entities, Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, and partners are encouraged to commemorate this Day each year, thereby strengthening momentum for concrete measures that advance justice, equality, and sustainable development for Indigenous Peoples worldwide.
The resolution, amongst other matters:
- Recognizes the significant contribution of Indigenous women and girls to sustainable development, the protection of the environment, the preservation of Indigenous languages and cultures, intergenerational transmission of knowledge, maternal health and the promotion of Indigenous and traditional medicine;
- Stresses the importance of the empowerment of Indigenous women and girls, their full, equal and meaningful participation in decision-making and with their free, prior and informed consent; and
- Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all States Members of the United Nations, members of the specialized agencies and observers of the General Assembly, as well as the organizations of the United Nations system and other relevant stakeholders, for appropriate observance of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Women and Girls, in order to raise awareness of the need to recognize and respect the rights and fundamental freedoms of all Indigenous women and girls, as set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and to support their pursuit of economic, social and cultural development.
Access the resolution here.
View the webcast of the session here.
