Environmental Health
Kids wearing masks at the Tar Sands
IITC’s Environmental Health Program provides information, networking and training for Indigenous communities to address the severe health, environmental and human rights impacts of toxic pesticides, persistent organic pollutants, mercury, mining and other extractive industries. It promotes safe alternatives, strengthens North/South and cross-cultural advocacy and builds capacity of impacted communities to assert their human rights including Free Prior and Informed Consent, promotes governmental and corporate accountability and works for policy change on the local, tribal, state, national and international levels.
Indigenous peoples have the right to the conservation and protection of the environment and the productive capacity of their lands or territories and resources…
~ Article 29, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Program Areas
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Program Areas
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Environmental Violence and Reproductive Health
Environmental Violence and Reproductive Health
Online resources
- OHCHR Environment and Climate Change Newsletter - March 2021
- Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, April 2018
Indigenous Peoples interventions, presentations, statements, reports, etc.
- Agenda Item 3: Follow up to the recommendations of the Permanent Forum, IITC statement, April 16, 2018
- 3rd DECLARATION FOR HEALTH, LIFE AND DEFENSE OF OUR LANDS, RIGHTS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, APRIL 14 – 15, 2018
- TERCERA DECLARACIÓN PARA LA SALUD, LA VIDA Y LA DEFENSA DE NUESTRAS TIERRAS, NUESTROS DERECHOS Y LAS GENERACIONES FUTURAS, 14 – 15 de abril de 2018
- “Indigenous Women and Environmental Violence”: A Rights-based approach addressing impacts of Environmental Contamination on Indigenous Women, Girls and Future Generations. Submitted to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Expert Group Meeting “Combating Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls”, January 18 – 20, 2012
- 25th Session of the Human Rights Council, Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment Statement delivered by Action Canada for Population and Development (ACPD) and International Indian Treaty Council, March 11, 2014
- Presentation by Andrea Carmen, IITC on the Export of Banned Pesticides, Reproductive Health and Environmental Violence for the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues International Expert Group Meeting on “Sexual health and reproductive rights, 15 to 17 January 2014
- Declaration from the 2nd INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS WOMEN’S ENVIRONMENTAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SYMPOSIUM, April 27th – 29th , 2012, Chickaloon Alaska
- Declaración del 2º SIMPOSIO INTERNACIONAL DE MUJERES INDÍGENAS SOBRE LA SALUD AMBIENTAL Y REPRODUCTIVA del 27 a 29 de abril de 2012, Chickaloon, Alaska
- Indigenous Women and Environmental Violence” presented by IITC to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Expert Group Meeting “Combating Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls”, January 18 – 20, 2012, United Nations, New York
- “DECLARATION FOR HEALTH, LIFE AND DEFENSE OF OUR LANDS, RIGHTS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS” from the 1st INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS WOMEN’S ENVIRONMENTAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SYMPOSIUM, June 30th – July 1st, 2010, Alamo California
- “DECLARACIÓN PARA LA SALUD, LA VIDA Y LA DEFENSA DE NUESTRAS TIERRAS, NUESTROS DERECHOS Y NUESTRAS GENERACIONES FUTURAS” del 1º SIMPOSIO INTERNACIONAL DE MUJERES INDÍGENAS SOBRE LA SALUD REPRODUCTIVA Y MEDIOAMBIENTAL, del 30 de junio al 1 de julio de 2010, Álamo, California Nosotras, mujeres indígenas de las regiones de América del Norte, América Latina, el Ártico, el Caribe y el Pacífico, nos reunimos del 30 de junio al 1 de julio del año 2010 en el, en Álamo, California, organizado por el Consejo Internacional de Tratados Indios (CITI) y la Red Indígena Norte-Sur Contra los Plaguicidas.
- Photos from the 2nd Int’l Indigenous Women’s Environmental & Health Symposium
Toxic Profits Footage for United Nations
Pesticides
Pesticides
Online resources
- IITC handout: Pesticides and the rights of Indigenous Peoples (v092713 v2)
- Hoja informativa de CITI: Los Plaguicidas y los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas (v102513)
- Letter regarding actions on Pesticides by the government of Mexico 2019 / Carta sobre acciones sobre plaguicidas por parte del gobierno de México 2019
- UN Expert Group Meeting collects testimonies from Indigenous Peoples on the human rights and intergenerational health impacts of environmental toxics, 2019 // Reunión de Grupo de Expertos de las Naciones Unidas recopila testimonios de Pueblos Indígenas sobre derechos humanos e impactos a la salud intergeneracional por tóxicos ambientales, 2019
- The North-South Indigenous Peoples’ Network Against Pesticides // La Red Indígena Contra los Plaguicidas Norte y Sur
- AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE EVALUATION OF CHILDREN EXPOSED TO PESTICIDES IN MEXICO, Elizabeth A. Guillette et al, Rio Yaqui Sonora Mexico
- “Altered Breast Development in Young Girls from an Agricultural Environment”, follow-up Study by Elizabeth A. Guillette et al in Rio Yaqui, Sonora Mexico, 2006
- Address of the the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Adverse Impacts of the Illicit Movement and Dumping of Toxic and Dangerous Products on the Enjoyment of Human Rights to the Workshop organized by IITC, 29 – 30 May, Rio Yaqui Sonora Mexico
Indigenous Peoples interventions, presentations, statements, reports, etc.
- GUIDANCE INFORMATION FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE JOINT MEETING ON PESTICIDE MANAGEMENT, 2023
- INFORMACIÓN ORIENTATIVA POR CONSIDERARSE EN LA REUNIÓN CONJUNTA SOBRE LA GESTIÓN DE PLAGUICIDAS COMO BASE PARA ENMENDAR EL CÓDIGO INTERNACIONAL DE CONDUCTA SOBRE LA GESTIÓN DE PLAGUICIDAS, 2023
- IITC: Proposals for the inclusions of references to Indigenous Peoples and safe guards for human rights in the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management, 2022
- CITI: Propuestas para la inclusión de referencias a los Pueblos Indígenas y salvaguardias para los Derechos Humanos en el Código Internacional de Conducta para la gestión de Plaguicidas, 2022
- Joint Letter to US State Department regarding Human Rights and Pesticides, December 6th, 2012, (IITC a co-submitter)
- Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request regarding US production of pesticides restricted for use in the US, IITC and Advocates for Environmental Human Rights (AEHR), filed on March 13th , 2012
- Declaración de Vicente Guerrero: “Pueblos Indígenas y Plaguicidas: Nuestra Tierra, Nuestros Derechos, Nuestro Futuro”, Vicente Guerrero, Municipio de Españita, Tlaxcala, México, 23 y 24 de Julio de 2010
- DECLARATION BY THE YAQUI TRADITIONAL AUTHORITIES ON THE USE OF PESTICIDES IN THE YAQUI LANDS OF SONORA, MEXICO PRESENTED IN VICAM PUEBLO, RÍO YAQUI, SONORA MEXICO, DECEMBER 7, 2006
- DECLARACIÓN SOBRE EL USO DE PLAGUICIDAS EN LAS TIERRAS YAQUIS DE SONORA MEXICO PRESENTADO EN VICAM PUEBLO, RÍO YAQUI SONORA, MÉXICO EL 7 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2006
- “Plaguicidas: La amenaza a nuestra salud comunitaria y al medioambiente; conociendo nuestros derechos, explorando las alternativas y trabajando juntos por un futuro saludable”, Potam Pueblo, Río Yaqui, Sonora, México, 29-31 de mayo de 2006, RESOLUTIVOS DEL TALLER
Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Stockholm Convention
Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Stockholm Convention
Online Resources
- Stockholm Convention
- UN Expert Group Meeting collects testimonies, 2019 // Reunión de Grupo de Expertos de las Naciones Unidas recopila testimonios, 2019
- Alaska Community Action on Toxics
- Conference of Parties (COP6)
- International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN)
- International Actions to Protect the Reproductive Health of Indigenous Women, Human Rights, and Future Generations The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, IITC/ACAT, 2013
Mercury and the UN Minamata Treaty
Mercury and the UN Minamata Treaty
Online Resources
- New IITC handout: Mercury and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2021)
- Nueva Hoja Informativa de CITI: El Mercurio y los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas (2021)
- Fact Sheet: Mercury in Dental Fillings: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Health, Your Children and the Environment, May 2015
- Report of the intergovernmental negotiating committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on mercury on the work of its fifth session and the adopted final text of the “Minimata Convention” on Mercury / Report of the intergovernmental negotiating committee in charge of preparing a legally binding instrument to global level on mercury relating to the work of its fifth session and the final adopted text of the "Mimimata Convention on Mercury"
- Final text as adopted January 19th, 2013, Geneva, United Nations “Minimata Convention” on Mercury
Indigenous Peoples interventions, presentations, statements, reports, etc.
- Invitation to the Third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP3) 2019
- IITC Intervention: Agenda Item 12, UN Minamata Convention on Mercury, March 2016
- Resolution adopted at NCAI Annual Conference, Tulsa Oklahoma October 19th 2013
- UNEP Press release - US ratifies Mercury Convention, November 8th 2013
- NCAI Resolution TUL-13-051 “Calling for US Ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury”, October 18th, 2013
- "GLOBAL MERCURY CONVENTION COMPLETED WITHOUT USING THE TERM" INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ", Press Release by the International Indian Treaty Council and California Indian Environmental Alliance, January 20th, 2013
Mining and Resource Extraction
Mining and Resource Extraction
Online Resources
- Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples James Anaya: Extractive industries and Indigenous Peoples, July 1, 2013
- Informe del Relator Especial sobre los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas James Anaya: Las industrias extractivas y los Pueblos Indígenas, el 1 de Julio de 2013
Indigenous Peoples interventions, presentations, statements, reports, etc.
- Submission from Chickaloon Village Traditional Council to UN Special Rapporteur James Anaya regarding opposition to a proposed coal strip mine in their traditional territory, April 19, 2012
- CERD Review of Canada’s 19th and 20th Periodic Reviews, Oral Intervention by Ron Lameman, International Indian Treaty Council, February 20th, 2012 addressing Human Rights impacts of the Tar Sands extraction
- CERD Review of Canada’s 19th and 20th Periodic Reviews, Oral Intervention by Andrea Carmen, International Indian Treaty Council, February 20th, 2012 addressing Human Rights violations by Canadian Mining Companies in the US, Guatemala and Mexico
- Diseased fish are being found in Lake Athabasca, Alberta Canada as a result of tar sands extraction
- Chickaloon Village presents its case against Coal Mining to the UN Expert on the Right to Water, Press release, February 22, 2011
- IITC Statement on Tar Sands and Keystone XL Pipeline, Indigenous Peoples Day of Action, September 2, 2011
- IITC Statement of Support for Mother Earth Accord, September 28th, 2011
- Mother Earth Accord opposing the Tar Sands and the Keystone XL Pipeline Project, Dene Nation National Office, September 23, 2011
Climate Change
Climate Change
Traditional Knowledge Exchange Platform, UNFCC
- Draft 3yr Workplan of the Facilitative Working Group of the LCIPP
- Letter affirming North America regional representative and alternate to the LCIPP Facilitative Working Group, February 18, 2019
- Reconoce la necesidad de reforzar los conocimientos, las tecnologías, las prácticas y los esfuerzos de las comunidades locales y los pueblos indígenas para hacer frente al cambio climático y darle respuesta, y establece una plataforma para el intercambio de experiencias y mejores prácticas sobre la mitigación y la adaptación de manera holística e integrada;
- Agenda of the informal meeting of Indigenous Peoples and Friendly States in Cochabamba Bolivia, October 11-13, 2018
- Agenda de la reunión informal de Pueblos Indígenas y Estados Amigos en Cochabamba Bolivia, October 11-13, 2018
- Report of the multi-stakeholder workshop: Implementing the functions of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform
- International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) Submission on the UNFCCC Indigenous Peoples’ Traditional Knowledge Exchange Platform, March 29, 2017
- Compiled Questionnaires on Traditional Knowledge and Climate Change from August 2016 – April 2017
UNFCCC COP25, Madrid, Spain, December 2019
- Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform: The second meeting of the Facilitative Working Group, Video and Agenda Available, Nov. 28, 2019
- IP Caucus Closing Statement | Declaración final de IP Caucus, Dec. 2019
United Nations Climate Summit, UN Headquarters, Sept. 23rd, 2019
- World Indigenous Peoples Present Climate Action Commitments at UNSG Climate Action Summit, 23 Sept. 2019
- Los Pueblos Indígenas del Mundo presentaron sus Compromisos de Acción Climática a la Cumbre de Acción Climática del Secretario General de la Organización de Naciones Unidas, 23 de Septiembre 2019
Climate Action Summit Prep meeting, Mexico City, September 2-3, 2019 // Reunión Preparatoria de los Pueblos Indígenas para la Cumbre de Acción Climática del Secretario General de la ONU en la Ciudad de México, 2 al 3 de septiembre de 2019
- World Indigenous Peoples Initiative to the UNSG Climate Action Summit, Commitments for Action on Climate, September 23, 2019
- Iniciativa Mundial de los Pueblos Indígenas para la Cumbre de Acción Climática del Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas, Compromisos para la acción sobre el clima, 23 de septiembre de 2019
- Liderazgo Climático de los Pueblos Indígenas del Mundo Cumbre de Acción Climática del Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas, 21 y 22 de septiembre, sede de la ONU, Sala ECOSOC, Agenda Borrador
- World Indigenous Peoples’ Climate Leadership, UNSG – Climate Action Summit, September 21st, 22nd, UN headquarters, Room ECOSOC, Draft agenda
UN Climate Change Conference (COP 24), Katowice, Poland 2–14 December 2018
- Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform, SBSTA, L18, 7 Dec. 2018
- Plataforma de las Comunidades Locales y los Pueblos Indígenas, SBSTA, L18, 7 de deciembre 2018
- International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (COP 24), Opening Plenary Statement, Dec. , 2018.
- Indigenous Peoples Closing Statement at COP24, Dec. 2018
- COP24 in Katowice Concludes with Historic Victory and some Disappointments for Indigenous Peoples in the International Fight to Halt Climate Change
- Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change concludes with historic victory
- La COP 24 en Katowice Concluye con una Victoria Histórica y algunas Decepciones para los Pueblos Indígenas en la Lucha Internacional para poner un Alto al Cambio Climático
UNFCCC Meeting, 30 April – 10 May, 2018
COP 23 (the 23rd Conference Of The Parties, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Bonn, Germany, Nov. 2017
- Local communities and indigenous peoples platform, Draft decision -/CP.23: FCCC/SBSTA/2017/L.29, Nov. 2017
- LCIP platform: Proposals on operationalization based on the open multi-stakeholder dialogue, 25 August 2017
- IIPFCC Report – Indigenous Peoples’ Engagement at UNFCCC COP23
COP 22 (the 22nd Conference Of The Parties, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Marrakech, Morocco, November 2016
- IIPFCC in solidarity with Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
- El FIPICC manifiesta su solidaridad con la tribu Sioux Standing Rock
COP 21 (the 21st Conference Of The Parties, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Paris France November 30th- December 11
- Decisiones adoptadas por la Conferencia de las Partes, FCCCCP201510Add.1
- Paris Decision 2015.FCC/CP/2015/L.9
- References to Indigenous Peoples in the Paris Agreement courtesy of Environmental Defense Fund
- Acuerdo de Paris 2015
- Paris Agreement 2015
- North American Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Consultations Report, March 31, 2016
- The Paris Agreement: An “Incremental Advance” for International Recognition of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 12/16/15
- El Acuerdo de París: Un “avance gradual” hacia el reconocimiento internacional de los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas, 16 de diciembre de 2015
- Indigenous Peoples Caucus Final Statement to COP21 Plenary
- Para los Pueblos Indígenas en COP21, la lucha continúa (09 de diciembre 2015)
- Mensaje del Caucus Indigena ante la sesión plenaria final de la COP21
- IITC Press Release, Indigenous Peoples and COP21 -The Struggle Continues, Dec. 9, 2015
Online Resources:
- Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights and Climate Change (v103014)
- Los Pueblos Indígenas, Derechos Humanos y el Cambio Climático (v110714)
- The Relationship between Human Rights and Climate Change, Report of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights. January 15th, 2009
- Indigenous Peoples at the Climate March Face Book page
- In Times Square, unions and activists preview climate march, 2014
Indigenous Peoples statements, declarations, presentations, & reports on Climate Change
- Climate Change Resolution, National Congress of American Indians, Oct. 23, 2015
- Climate Change Resolution, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, Oct. 17, 2015
- Final Southwest Tribal Nations Resolution, Shiprock, New Mexico, April 8-9, 2015
- Climate Change and Right to Health – IITC Submission to UN-OHCHR, October 31st, 2015
- CAMBIO CLIMÁTICO, PANORAMA GENERAL, Documento preparado por el Foro Permanente para las Cuestiones Indígenas de la Secretaría de las Naciones Unidas, Noviembre 2007
- Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change, Submission to the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights on by the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC), NGO in Special Consultative Status to the UN Economic and Social Council, December 26th, 2008
- Apr24_09_Anchorage-1span “The Anchorage Declaration” from the Indigenous Peoples’ Global Summit on Climate Change, 24 April, 2009
- Declaración de Anchorage” del Cumbre Mundial de Pueblos Indígenas sobre Cambio Climático, 24 de Abril 2009
Indigenous Peoples at the People's Climate March – Sunday, September 21st, 2014
UN Convention on Bio-Diversity
UN Convention on Bio-Diversity
- NAGOYA PROTOCOL ON ACCESS TO GENETIC RESOURCES AND THE FAIR AND EQUITABLE SHARING OF BENEFITS ARISING FROM THEIR UTILIZATION
- Text of the Convention Convention on Biological Diversity – English | French | Spanish
UNCBD - COP15
Conservation and Protected Areas
Conservation and Protected Areas
- Consolidated Questionnaire Responses from Indigenous Peoples for the Development of Rights-based Principles for the Ethical Engagement of "Conservation Funders" and Intermediaries 2024
- Comments, Concerns, and Recommendations: Rights-based Principles for the Ethical Engagement of "Conservation Funders" and Intermediaries with Indigenous Peoples, 2024