HLPF: Indigenous Peoples Major Group statement on “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world: Multi-stakeholder perspectives” at the High-Level Political Forum 2017

United Nations High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
UN Headquarters, 10 – 19 July, 2017

Session 6
Thematic review
Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world:
Multi-stakeholder perspectives
Tuesday, 11 July 2017, 15.00-18.00, Conference Room 4

Delivered by Ms. Patricia Wattimena, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples’ Major Group

Thank you, Ms. Moderator,

Indigenous peoples are important food producers but we are 15% of nearly 800 million people living in extreme poverty and suffering greatly from hunger and malnutrition. It is unfortunate that indigenous peoples’ major group was not given the space to speak yesterday and during the session this morning.

Ms. Moderator,

Securing land rights of indigenous peoples needs to be prioritized to ensure that we are not left behind. States must undertake policy reforms towards legal recognition of customary land rights of indigenous peoples, women, small scale farmers and fisher-folks with clear indicators and participatory monitoring systems.

Lastly but most importantly, as Indigenous Peoples, we have initiated community-based monitoring of land tenure and threats to our territories, among others. This is our contribution to data disaggregation and the broad ecosystem of data required to fully understand tangible outcomes and gaps for groups suffering from discrimination and exclusion.

I Thank you.

Click here to download full statement.