At the United Nations, Indigenous Human Rights Defenders Testify on Persecution and Treaties
By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Thursday, July 16, 2026
GENEVA -- At the U.N. Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous youth and women are in the forefront, while Indigenous from around the world describe their struggle to be recognized by the governments in their homelands, and be heard and respected. Indigenous in Canada reported success today in treaty negotiations.
Australia Aborignals and Torres Strait Islanders: Women and Youth Testify
Aboriginal youths from Australia and Torres Islanders were among the strong youth voices at the United Nations today. The delegation shown here said biomedical research is being weaponized against their people; and is being carried out against them without free, prior and informed consent.
"Biomedical data must be wholly managed, stored, and owned by its respective communities. Indigenous people will always be the first scientists and health practitioners. The next 20 years must be defined by indigenous authority over our research, our data, and our health future," the youth delegate said.
This week, Indigenous youths testified that they must be recognized and involved in decision making at the United Nations.
Exiled Russian delegate testifying.
Russia and Ecuador at the UN -- They're not giving up. Again today, exiled Indigenous from Russia and the Far North called for the release of two women imprisoned in Russia, U.N. participants and climate justice advocates, Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt, who have been behind bars for six months. The Russian Federation has repeatedly taken the floor attempting to discredit the delegation of exiled human rights defenders. Russia is demanding that they be silenced and removed from the sessions.
In a second wave of oppression for those speaking out at the U.N. Pacha Teran of Ecuador said yesterday that her parents home was attacked after she testified at the U.N. Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Geneva, which is broadcast globally by the U.N.
"Con mi participo en la 19.ª sesión del EMRIP - ONU, donde he denunciado vulneraciones de derechos en mi pais, hoy la vivienda de mis padres fue objeto de una agresión."
(With my participation in the 19th session of the EMRIP - UN, where I denounced human rights violations in my country, today my parents' home was the target of an attack," Teran said on social media on Wednesday.)Teran is in the delegation testifying on the militarization and violence by the government of Ecuador security forces.
Red River Metis Ambassador Clement Chartier
Red River Metis of Manitoba, Canada, described the negotiations with Canada that resulted in a decade of reconciliation, which led to over $3 billion in funds for Red River Metis. Red River Metis Ambassador Clement Chartier said Canada embraced the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, during Trudeau's administration, and began implementing it. Red River Metis now have a Treaty for final ratification in process in Canada.
During the U.N. Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples today in Geneva, Indigenous described their struggles to be recognized and heard in their home countries.
The B.C. Treaty Commission in Canada reported success as it moves forward with modern day treaty negotiations for self-governance for Native Nations in B.C.
Indigenous from Peru continue to call for action to ensure the rights of Indigenous Peoples, at the U.N. Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous in Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Nicaragua, and Ecuador told the U.N. this week of the militarized oppression in their countries -- the deaths, imprisonments, loss of land and poisoning of their rivers -- as they defend their lands and water from logging, mining, and oil and gas drilling.
Indigenous from Indonesia point out that the reality in their homelands, and what the government of Indonesia says in the United Nations sessions are not the same. Indigenous point out that the mining that the Indonesian government claims it has stopped is actually proceeding, and a pipeline is doing further damage.
Please check back for updates on this article.
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