United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

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 development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.

More specifically, the Permanent Forum:

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 development, culture, the environment, education, health 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.