IITC’s side event “International Repatriation of our Sacred Items: Progress, Challenges, and the Road Ahead” was held on April 23rd during the UNPFII, co-hosted by the United Confederation of Taino People and the Haudenosaunee External Relations Committee. Photo by Manuel May Castillo.
New York, New York (UN Headquarters): The 25th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) concluded on May 1st, 2026, in New York City. Over 1000 participants including representatives of Indigenous Peoples from all 7 regions attended the two-week session. The Forum addressed a wide range of issues impacting the rights of Indigenous Peoples, both in their homelands and in their international advocacy on behalf of their Peoples.
The International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) delegation included representatives from North and Latin America, who worked closely with IITC affiliates from the Pacific, North America and Caribbean regions. IITC delegates presented 6 interventions on key issues including Climate Change, Environmental Health and Toxics, Treaty Rights, International Repatriation of sacred items, Pesticides, Indigenous Peoples’ UN Platforms, and the need to maintain the UNPFII’s firm position to uphold the distinct collective rights of Indigenous Peoples. IITC also organized and co-sponsored 4 side events with other Indigenous organizations and UN Agencies (FAO and UNESCO) focusing on International Repatriation, amending the International Code of Conduct on Pesticides, and negative impacts of “transition” minerals.
IITC notes with appreciation that many of our recommendations were included in the UN final draft report as approved by the Forum members in their final session on May 1. These included:
1. Under agenda item 3, the Forum urged both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to “immediately cease the conflation of Indigenous Peoples with other groups… recognizing Indigenous Peoples as distinct rights holders.”
2. Under agenda item 4, the Forum reaffirmed its previous recommendation to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2024 stating: “the Forum calls upon UNESCO to develop, in conjunction with Indigenous Peoples, a fair, transparent, effective and participatory international mechanism for repatriating Indigenous Peoples’ ancestral remains, cultural patrimony and sacred objects.” The Forum also recommended the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the WHO, and the Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ Food and Knowledge Systems to “finalize amendments to the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management to include free, prior and informed consent… before the end of 2026.”
- Under agenda item 5(e), the Forum recommended state parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) “operationalize free, prior and informed consent in all just transition pathways, including transition minerals, renewable energy and biofuels” as part of the UNFCCC’s binding framework. The Forum expressed concern regarding “non-implementation of obligations in international treaties with Indigenous Peoples and large-scale lithium extraction without their free, prior and informed consent”. The Forum also called on UN entities to “require free, prior and informed consent as a mandatory condition for all just transition programmes” by 2027, with monitoring frameworks and direct funding for Indigenous Peoples, in accordance with UNDRIP Art. 31.
- Under agenda time 5(f)addressing Indigenous Peoples Platforms, the Forum encouraged the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to adopt a method of operation for the Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j), and other processes “to clarify terminology and uphold the distinct status and rights of Indigenous Peoples”. Also, under 5(f) regarding the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) the UNPFII affirmed the recognition of “Indigenous Peoples as distinct from other groups.”
The IITC is an organization of Indigenous Peoples from North, Central, and South America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, working for the sovereignty and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples and the recognition and protection of their rights, treaties, traditional cultures, sacred lands and waters. IITC was the first Indigenous Peoples organization to receive Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1977, and in 2011 was the first to be upgraded to General Consultative Status with ECOSOC.
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To view the Permanent Forum’s draft report, which will be presented to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for final adoption, log on to:
https://social.desa.un.org/issues/indigenous-peoples/unpfii/25th-session?fbclid=IwY2xjawRh3EdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFmZHFhMXEyNFJIZGVJOGFZc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhfCs5V3POEwX-P9bcveNa_dDlYTzzg6TTHtx5D4T8PfbjxmiMgryrVEgM8R_aem_Q2L798LbPanIbjtJbtYOfg
For more information contact [email protected].
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IITC HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE DRAFT FINAL REPORT OF THE 25TH SESSION OF THE UN PERMANENT FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES
IITC’s side event “International Repatriation of our Sacred Items: Progress, Challenges, and the Road Ahead” was held on April 23rd during the UNPFII, co-hosted by the United Confederation of Taino People and the Haudenosaunee External Relations Committee. Photo by Manuel May Castillo.
New York, New York (UN Headquarters): The 25th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) concluded on May 1st, 2026, in New York City. Over 1000 participants including representatives of Indigenous Peoples from all 7 regions attended the two-week session. The Forum addressed a wide range of issues impacting the rights of Indigenous Peoples, both in their homelands and in their international advocacy on behalf of their Peoples.
The International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) delegation included representatives from North and Latin America, who worked closely with IITC affiliates from the Pacific, North America and Caribbean regions. IITC delegates presented 6 interventions on key issues including Climate Change, Environmental Health and Toxics, Treaty Rights, International Repatriation of sacred items, Pesticides, Indigenous Peoples’ UN Platforms, and the need to maintain the UNPFII’s firm position to uphold the distinct collective rights of Indigenous Peoples. IITC also organized and co-sponsored 4 side events with other Indigenous organizations and UN Agencies (FAO and UNESCO) focusing on International Repatriation, amending the International Code of Conduct on Pesticides, and negative impacts of “transition” minerals.
IITC notes with appreciation that many of our recommendations were included in the UN final draft report as approved by the Forum members in their final session on May 1. These included:
1. Under agenda item 3, the Forum urged both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to “immediately cease the conflation of Indigenous Peoples with other groups… recognizing Indigenous Peoples as distinct rights holders.”
2. Under agenda item 4, the Forum reaffirmed its previous recommendation to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2024 stating: “the Forum calls upon UNESCO to develop, in conjunction with Indigenous Peoples, a fair, transparent, effective and participatory international mechanism for repatriating Indigenous Peoples’ ancestral remains, cultural patrimony and sacred objects.” The Forum also recommended the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the WHO, and the Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ Food and Knowledge Systems to “finalize amendments to the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management to include free, prior and informed consent… before the end of 2026.”
- Under agenda item 5(e), the Forum recommended state parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) “operationalize free, prior and informed consent in all just transition pathways, including transition minerals, renewable energy and biofuels” as part of the UNFCCC’s binding framework. The Forum expressed concern regarding “non-implementation of obligations in international treaties with Indigenous Peoples and large-scale lithium extraction without their free, prior and informed consent”. The Forum also called on UN entities to “require free, prior and informed consent as a mandatory condition for all just transition programmes” by 2027, with monitoring frameworks and direct funding for Indigenous Peoples, in accordance with UNDRIP Art. 31.
- Under agenda time 5(f)addressing Indigenous Peoples Platforms, the Forum encouraged the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to adopt a method of operation for the Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j), and other processes “to clarify terminology and uphold the distinct status and rights of Indigenous Peoples”. Also, under 5(f) regarding the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) the UNPFII affirmed the recognition of “Indigenous Peoples as distinct from other groups.”
The IITC is an organization of Indigenous Peoples from North, Central, and South America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, working for the sovereignty and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples and the recognition and protection of their rights, treaties, traditional cultures, sacred lands and waters. IITC was the first Indigenous Peoples organization to receive Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1977, and in 2011 was the first to be upgraded to General Consultative Status with ECOSOC.
###
To view the Permanent Forum’s draft report, which will be presented to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for final adoption, log on to:
https://social.desa.un.org/issues/indigenous-peoples/unpfii/25th-session?fbclid=IwY2xjawRh3EdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFmZHFhMXEyNFJIZGVJOGFZc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhfCs5V3POEwX-P9bcveNa_dDlYTzzg6TTHtx5D4T8PfbjxmiMgryrVEgM8R_aem_Q2L798LbPanIbjtJbtYOfg
For more information contact [email protected].