UNPFII22: Agenda Item 3 – Special theme of the session: Indigenous Peoples, human health, planetary and territorial health, and climate change: a rights-based approach

Joint Statement to the 22nd Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)
Statement on Agenda Item 3: Special theme of the session: “Indigenous Peoples, human health, planetary and territorial health, and climate change: a rights-based approach
18th April 2023 Statement by Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, Asia IP Caucus
Presented by: Beverly Longid

I speak on behalf of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Caucus convened by the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact.

Conferences on climate and biodiversity, funding pledges, and studies increasingly recognize the valuable roles and contributions of Indigenous Peoples as custodians of biodiversity and partners in conservation, restoration, and sustainable use.

The study by the Permanent Forum also reflects that Indigenous Peoples view health as an interconnection of spirituality, medicine, biodiversity, and everything living. The disruption, destruction, and disrespect for our Indigenous ways of life remain negative factors affecting Indigenous health. Centuries of colonial practices, development aggression, and corporate culture continue to add to the physical, mental, and spiritual traumas in Indigenous Peoples, which have intergenerational consequences.

The Asia Caucus statement stresses on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which recognizes the integrity and distinct nature of the lands, territories, and resources of Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLC) and the importance of our full and fair participation in decision-making, implementing the framework and achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

‘Without a commitment to safeguarding human rights, the 30×30 conservation target would lead to further eviction of Indigenous Peoples and local communities from our ancestral lands and denial of access to critical resources needed to sustain our rights to land, food, and health. States should respect our free, prior, and informed consent in creating protected areas, allowing us to manage and provide the financial resources required to support these areas. This commitment is crucial in realizing the target.

We join the Indigenous Women Caucus and others in welcoming the adoption of Target 23 and the Gender Plan of Action. The Indigenous Peoples’ conservation models and a human-rights-based approach have proven efficient and effective, thus, should be the conservation standard.

The Asia Indigenous Peoples Caucus recommends, to:

1. Ensure the full and just participation of Indigenous Peoples in revising the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity framework, and applying the reporting framework through community-based monitoring.
2. Ensure increased direct access to financial resources for Indigenous Peoples, inclusive of all landscapes and seascapes, less bureaucratic financial mechanisms, and inclusion in the GBF governance committees to design better and implement grants.
3. Build meaningful partnerships with Indigenous Peoples to ensure these proposed solutions address climate change and promote biodiversity restoration and planetary and territorial health.

Thank you. 

Click here to download the full statement on Agenda Item 3