The UN Forum highlights health services for Indigenous Peoples

More than 1,000 participants are expected to attend the latest session United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) – a platform that has placed their concerns at the center of international debate over the past 25 years.

“From the Amazon to Australia, and Africa to the Arctic, you are great stewards of nature, living libraries of biodiversity conservation, and champions of climate action,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres he said in his remarks at the opening ceremony.

Health inequalities still persist

Delegates – most dressed in traditional clothing – gathered in the General Assembly Hall where Canadian Inuit leader Aluki Kotierk was re-elected as chairman of the forum by acclamation.

Although Indigenous Peoples make up six percent of the global population, they account for nearly 19 percent of those living in extreme poverty. The community still experiences discrimination, marginalization and exclusion, and he highlighted the health disparities they face.

No matter where they live, Indigenous Peoples experience shorter life expectancies, greater likelihood of chronic disease, and alarming suicide rates, he said.

“Degradation of Indigenous Peoples’ lands, territories and waters directly contributes to these poor health conditions,” he added, with communities reporting problems such as mercury contamination and the impact of climate change.

Interrelated and inseparable

Ms. Kotierk explained that for Indigenous Peoples, “Health and wellbeing is more than just physical and mental health. It is interrelated with our culture, spirituality, language, land and environment.”

She argues that health systems and understandings around health “must be decolonized to acknowledge this interconnectedness and incorporate holistic approaches to health and self-determination by Indigenous Peoples.”

Secretary General underlined how their rights cannot be separated from their land, waters, language, culture and ecosystem, emphasizing that if anyone is harmed, everyone will be affected.

“This is especially true in contexts of conflict, when eviction from ancestral lands, loss of livelihoods, food insecurity, destruction of sacred sites, and disruption of cultural traditions can endanger health,” he said.

General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock delivers a speech at the opening of the 25th Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII).

‘Moral failure’

President of the General Assembly Annalena Baerbock discusses how land loss, displacement and marginalization have caused communities to suffer higher rates of disease, malnutrition and preventable disease, while life expectancy may be shortened by up to 20 years.

“Indigenous women face particularly acute risks, including high maternal and infant mortality rateshe said.

“This is not just a moral failure, but a development failure. The health and well-being of Indigenous Peoples is a measure of our progress in achieving these goals Sustainable Development Goals and the conditions for achieving it.”

Honor commitments, increase participation

The Secretary-General recognized Indigenous Peoples as “bearers of culture, knowledge and ways of life that have sustained humanity for millennia.”

Emphasizing that their participation in global decision-making is essential, he outlined four priorities for action, the first of which urges Member States to honor their commitments under UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Meanwhile, the UN system and Member States must ensure the full, meaningful and direct participation of Indigenous Peoples at all levels, supported by adequate and sustainable funding.

He called on communities everywhere to take immediate and concrete steps to protect Indigenous Peoples, their leaders, and human rights defenders – and to address the violence and risks they face.

The final area of ​​action is ensuring that indigenous women and girls can participate meaningfully in decisions that impact their lives, as “their knowledge, leadership, and perspectives must shape the future.”

Forum for debate

The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) was established in July 2000 as a high-level advisory body to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The agency has a mandate to address issues in six areas – economic and social development, culture, environment, education, health and human rights.

The 25th session takes place from April 20 to May 1 and will discuss key issues, including those related to Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.