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United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is a high- level advisory body to the Economic and Social Council. The Forum was established on 28 July 2000 by resolution 2000/22, with the mandate to deal with indigenous issues related to economic and social developmentculturethe environmenteducationhealth and human rights.

More specifically, the Permanent Forum:UNPFII Logo

  • provides expert advice and recommendations on Indigenous issues to the Council, as well as to programmes, funds and agencies of the United Nations, through ECOSOC;
  • raises awareness and promotes the integration and coordination of activities related to Indigenous issues within the UN system;
  • prepares and disseminates information on Indigenous issues;
  • promotes respect for and full application of the provisions of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and follow up the effectiveness of this Declaration (Art. 42 UNDRIP).

The first meeting of the Permanent Forum was held in May 2002, with yearly sessions thereafter. The Forum usually meets for 10 days each year, at the UN Headquarters in New York. According to the ECOSOC resolution E/2000/22, the Forum may also meet at the UN Office in Geneva or at such other place that it decides.

In addition to the six mandated areas (economic and social developmentculturethe environmenteducationhealth and human rights), each session is thematically focused on a specific issue.

The Permanent Forum is one of three UN bodies that is mandated to deal specifically with Indigenous Peoples’ issues. The others are the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The Permanent Forum’s engagement and role in promoting Indigenous Peoples’ rights are made possible through the Trust Fund on Indigenous Issues, which overall facilitates follow-up to the Forum’s recommendations, awareness raising and outreach on Indigenous issues as well as representation and participation of Permanent Forum members at international meetings of significance for its mandate. In addition, the Trust Fund provides support for the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. DESA is charged with the overall management of the Trust Fund, which is placed under the Indigenous Peoples and Development Branch-Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

 

Permanent Forum session themes across the years:

 Year  Session  Theme*
 2025  24th Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples within United Nations Member States and the United Nations system, including identifying good practices and addressing challenges
 2024  23rd Enhancing Indigenous Peoples' right to self-determination in the context of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: emphasizing the voices of Indigenous youth
 2023  22nd Indigenous Peoples, human health, planetary and territorial health and climate change: a rights-based approach
 2022  21st Indigenous peoples, business, autonomy and the human rights principles of due diligence including free, prior and informed consent
 2021  20th Peace, justice and strong institutions: the role of indigenous peoples in implementing Sustainable Development Goal 16
 2020  19th Postponed session
 2019  18th Traditional knowledge: Generation, transmission and protection
 2018  17th Indigenous peoples' collective rights to lands, territories and resources
 2017  16th Tenth Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: measures taken to implement the Declaration
 2016  15th Indigenous peoples: conflict, peace and resolution
 2015  14th Review year
 2014  13th Principles of good governance consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: articles 3 to 6 and 46
 2013  12th Review year
 2012  11th The Doctrine of Discovery: its enduring impact on indigenous peoples and the right to redress for past conquests (articles 28 and 37 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples)
 2011  10th Review year
 2010  9th Indigenous peoples: development with culture and identity; articles 3 and 32 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
 2009  8th Review year
 2008  7th Climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods: the stewardship role of indigenous peoples and new challenges
 2007  6th Territories, lands and natural resources
 2006  5th The Millennium Development Goals and indigenous peoples: Re-defining the Millennium Development Goals
 2005  4th Millennium Development Goals and indigenous peoples
 2004  3rd Indigenous Women
 2003  2nd Indigenous Children and Youth
 2002  1st First session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

* as of 3 November 2022, the term “Indigenous Peoples” is capitalized in the United Nations Editorial Manual. That update was made in accordance with an agreement made among the Member States when negotiating General Assembly resolution 77/203.