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Inuk Aluki Kotierk, chair, screenshot by Censored News
U.N. Permanent Forum Concludes: Women's Rights and Destructive Mining among Priorities in Final Report
By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, May 2, 2025
https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k19/k19ktjvz0g |
NEW YORK -- Women's rights, an end to Russia's aggression in the Ukraine, and the protection of Indigenous Peoples from mining, specifically the abuses of critical minerals extraction, were priorities of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues as it concluded this afternoon.
Aluki Kotierk, Inuk and chair, praised the Indigenous youths at this year's forum, and the inspiration they brought.
"Among the most inspiring aspects of this session has been the presence and leadership of Indigenous youth. Your courage, clarity, and vision give us hope. You are not the leaders of tomorrow—you are the leaders of today. Stay grounded in your Peoples, carry your knowledge with pride, and walk guided by the spirit of your ancestors. We need your strength now," Chair Kotierk said.Chair Kotierk said it was a demanding session.
"Indigenous women are at the frontlines — not only surviving, but transforming the conditions of
their Peoples. Their voices must not only be heard—they must be central to all decision-making
that affects their lives, territories, and futures."
The urgency for culturally-appropriate education, led by Indigenous Peoples, was a priority during the session, she said, speaking on the need for survival of the people.
"Education should be liberating, not colonizing."
Speaking on the criminalization of Indigenous leaders who defend their land, people and resources, she said, "Their struggle is not only for their Peoples—it is for all of
us, for future generations, for biodiversity and climate balance."
"We reaffirm: defending Mother
Earth is not a crime—it is a responsibility."
While some advances have been made, the Forum's final report concludes that much more must be done to advance the implementation of the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Calling for a just transition, the report states Indigenous Peoples' rights must be respected. Free, prior and informed consent must be given on projects on their lands. Their rights include the right to reject projects. Further, the report states that buffer zones should be created to protect Indigenous Peoples lands from extractive industries.
Mining projects must be immediately halted in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia Federation and Sweden, the final report states. Further, countries were urged to monitor mercury from gold mining.
The final report calls on Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua and Iraq to ensure protection of human rights defenders and ensure rights to land. This includes protection of Kichwa human rights defenders and those in voluntary isolation in Ecuador; imprisoned Mosquitia in Nicaragua; recognition of Indigenous in Iraq; and a review of legislation which is a threat to human rights defenders in Peru.
The Forum issued a concern over the criminalization of Indigenous leaders in Ecuador.
It called on Russia to take Indigenous language rights into consideration.
Visas and Location of Forum
Following the delay of visas this year, the Forum called upon the United States and all countries to ensure participation by issuing visas.
The final report says the Permanent Forum will consider alternate locations, other than the current location of New York.
"The Permanent Forum recognises the practical difficulties of organising its sessions
in New York due to barriers to participation faced by Indigenous Peoples. In line with
ECOSOC Resolution 2000/22, it will consider alternate venues."
The session's final report, a series of documents:
Mining excerpts
https://docs.un.org/en/E/C.19/2025/L.6
"The extraction of critical minerals, which is essential for the global transition to
renewable energy, has far-reaching implications for Indigenous Peoples, whose lands
and territories are often rich in these vital resources. While crucial to addressing
climate change, unregulated or exploitative extraction risks repeating historical
injustices and endangering Indigenous Peoples’ rights, ecosystems and ways of life.
Indigenous Peoples must be recognized as rights holders and essential partners in
building a just and sustainable future, and not as barriers to development."
"States must immediately halt mining projects in Argentina, Bolivia
(Plurinational State of), Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Russian
Federation and Sweden and other projects violating the right of Indigenous Peoples
to free, prior and informed consent."
The Rights of Women
Matters brought to the attention of the Council Recommendations of the Permanent Forum Interregional, intergenerational and global dialogue on “The rights of Indigenous women” (item 5 (e))
Excerpts:
1. The Permanent Forum extends its appreciation to the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, Lena Estrada Añokazi, for her participation during the twenty-fourth session.
2. The systemic challenges that Indigenous women and girls experience include gender-based violence, marginalization, discrimination and violations of their sexual and reproductive health rights. Indigenous women who advocate for their individual and collective rights also face retaliation. The Permanent Forum heard testimonies asserting that Indigenous women had been imprisoned for organizing peaceful events, even on International Women’s Day.
3. Indigenous women continue to face intersectional forms of discrimination and systemic racism. The Permanent Forum urges States to promote the leadership of Indigenous women in order to address contemporary intersectional discrimination and intergenerational and historical trauma, including for those living outside their ancestral homelands.
4. Despite facing immense adversity, Indigenous women continue to be resilient advocates. They call upon Member States to uphold their international commitments to gender equality and to prioritize the inclusion of Indigenous women in decision - making on development policies and programmes.
Indigenous children and the health of Indigenous women
12. Reports of Indigenous children being forcibly removed from their mothers by State agencies evoke painful parallels with discriminatory assimilationist laws of the past. The high rates of child removal by welfare systems are alarming and are often justified through processes that fail to account for the unique cultural contexts of Indigenous Peoples.
13. Forced sterilizations and coerced contraception campaigns are serious violations of reproductive health rights, disproportionately targeting Indigenous women and adolescents worldwide. These practices often stem from systemic racism, colonial ideologies and attempts to control population growth. States must adopt a human rights-based approach to investigate and address these practices. In addition, the E/C.19/2025/L.4 25-06538 3/3 Human Rights Council, at its fifty-ninth session, is urged to establish a commission of inquiry – grounded in free, prior and informed consent and Indigenous-run health systems – to document the global impact of such practices.
14. Recognizing the dangers of mercury and other harmful contaminants in the context of extractive industries, the Permanent Forum urges States to implement comprehensive monitoring and regulation of toxic contaminants on the lands and territories of Indigenous Peoples, including the restoration of sites and water resources that have been affected. It highlights the urgent need to address the severe impact on the health of Indigenous women and children, including neurological damage from prenatal or dietary exposure, and calls for effective interventions and remediation from health and environmental impacts.
Armed conflict and military occupation
15. Indigenous women and children are disproportionately affected by military
occupation and armed conflict, which result in, among other things, forced
displacement, gender-based violence, trafficking in persons, sexual violence, forced
marriage and abduction. These actions are prohibited under international
humanitarian and human rights law, including the United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Permanent Forum calls for the United Nations
system, the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the
humanitarian aid sector to ensure that targeted assistance is offered to Indigenous
Peoples. The Forum also urges Member States to end impunity and prosecute
perpetrators.
Armed Conflict and Protest excerpts
11. The Permanent Forum calls on Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of
Congo, and Sudan and South Sudan to promptly end violence against Indigenous
Peoples, particularly Indigenous women and children, in the context of armed
conflict, counter-terrorism and mining activities. Any peace process must
involve Indigenous Peoples, in line with UN General Assembly Resolution
A/RES/79/159.
12. The Permanent Forum heard about New Zealand Aotearoas’ retreat from
honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi), which sparked the
country’s largest-ever protest. The Permanent Forum calls on New Zealand to
recommit to the Treaty.
13. The disproportionate impact of Russian aggression against Ukraine on
Indigenous Peoples in the region includes conscription, mass displacement, and
attacks on identity, violating their individual and collective rights. In occupied
Crimea, Indigenous women are persecuted and detained for defending human
rights. The Permanent Forum calls on the Russian Federation to engage in
constructive negotiations to achieve just and durable peace.
14. Following the recent coup in Myanmar political instability persists, with
planned military-led elections widely seen as a means to entrench power rather
than restore democracy. Ongoing airstrikes, even amid a 7.7 magnitude
earthquake, highlight the crisis.
The Permanent Forum reiterates previous calls for Bangladesh to ensure effective progress on implementing the 1997 CHT Peace Accord.
Artificial Intelligence excerpt
0. Artificial Intelligence (AI) poses challenges and opportunities for Indigenous
Peoples. The Forum recommends that UN entities involved in developing, governing,
and applying AI and digital technologies ensure the meaningful inclusion of
Indigenous Peoples in their processes for their benefit.
Matters calling for action by the Economic and Social
Council or brought to its attention
9. The Permanent Forum calls for the Russian Federation to immediately cease its
aggression against Ukraine, condemning it as a grave violation of Indigenous Peoples’
E/C.19/2025/L.5/Rev.1
25-06549 3/4
rights under the Declaration. Furthermore, it urges all Member States to take decisive
action in supporting a just and lasting peace in line with international law.
10. The Permanent Forum reiterates its call for Canada and the United States to
decommission the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline, which poses a real and credible threat
to the Great Lakes and Indigenous Peoples. Both States must implement the
Declaration in connection with Line 5 by respecting the free, prior and informed
consent of the affected Indigenous Peoples.
11. The Permanent Forum urges India to immediately uphold the rights of
Indigenous Peoples in Manipur who are affected by conflict ...
12. Member States are encouraged to reaffirm their commitment to prevent the use
of Indigenous Peoples’ resources, lands and territories without free, prior and
informed consent and respect the territorial integrity of Indigenous Peoples. The
population of Greenland is over 90 per cent Indigenous; hence, the Declaration
applies fully, along with national and international law. Member States are called to
honour the territorial integrity and political autonomy of Greenland.
13. The Permanent Forum urges the United States to fully implement the
Declaration by strengthening commitments to Indigenous leadership, including by
seating the delegate of the Cherokee Nation in the House of Representatives. It
welcomes the adoption of the Declaration by the Pawnee, Ho-Chunk, Yurok and
Muscogee (Creek) Nations.
14. The Permanent Forum urges the Government of the Plurinational State of
Bolivia to comply with the articles of the Declaration that have been incorporated into
its Constitution, including those on free, prior and informed consent, protecting
Indigenous women and ensuring territorial integrity.
Maintaining the way of life in Mongolia
6. The Forum calls on Mongolia, the FAO, and the UNCCD to ensure meaningful
participation of representatives of Indigenous Pastoralists in the International Year of
Rangelands and Pastoralism (A/RES/76/253), and in all related events and processes.
Adequate and sustained funding must be secured for Indigenous Peoples’
participation.
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