U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues' Final Priorities -- Climate Change, Women's Rights, and Repressions, 2026

U.N.  Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues' Final Priorities -- Climate Change, Women's Rights, and Repressions, 2026

Indigenous youths delivered powerful testimony during the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York during the two-week session which concluded Friday. Courtesy photo.

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, May 1, 2026

NEW YORK -- The priorities of the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues included climate change, forced sterilization, repressions and the rights of refugees, as Indigenous Peoples concluded the two-week session today in New York. 

The dialogue on climate change was the first priority in the draft final statement. It recognizes positive efforts led by Australia, First Nations in Canada, and Brazil. The next priority is the recognition of the right of the Arab Emirates just transition work program. The just transition involving minerals and 'green transition' follows as the priority

In the final report, the Forum highlighted the violence against women and girls, forced sterilization, and the exclusion of women and girls from decision-making processes. It calls for a halt to the discrimination against women and girls.

Chair Aluki Kotierk, Inuk

Chair Aluki Kotierk,Inuk, expressed her concern that higher entities at the U.N. had forced the session to be held in a small room and Indigenous were forced to stand on the stairs and in the back and translators had been reduced. She said it was a concern for future sessions.

Meanwhile, during the session, Indigenous said the Forum had given too much time to governments and limited their testimony.

Nicaragua's Indigenous called for 'proof of life' of an Indigenous woman who earlier testified here and disappeared.

The government of China again testified that it does not have 'Indigenous Peoples,' but has ethnic peoples. China denied it is engaged in crimes against humanity, as stated by Indigenous at the Forum.

The Uyghur representative called for urgent international action and independent monitoring in China.

“More than one million Uyghurs have been arbitrarily detained in concentration camps.” “The international community must move from recognition to accountability," an Uyghur representative testified.

The government of Vietnam denied it has 'Indigenous Peoples' and said it has 'ethnic groups.' Vietnam also denied it is engaged in genocide against Indigenous Peoples as stated by Indigenous at the Forum.

The government of Russia criticized the Forum for allowing testimony of the recent imprisonment of Indigenous women, stating the Forum allowed 'judicial' testimony that is not allowed under the rules here. The representative from the Ukraine described Russia's crimes against its Indigenous people in the Ukraine.

During the testimony, Hawaii's sovereign Indigenous and Maori from the Pacific delivered powerful statements on the failure of their governments to protect their land, water and people, pointing out poisoned waters, discrimination against women, including high rates of incarceration in prisons, and the brutality of residential schools.

Indigenous representatives pointed out the harm of A.I., artificial intelligence, which is now stealing Indigenous knowledge for commercial purposes, and its massive data centers are poisoning the rivers, stealing water and polluting the air.

In Africa, Indigenous struggle as deserts expand during droughts, and cattle herders are kidnapped for ransom. Small numbered tribes are raided and oppressed and World Heritage sites encroach on rights, Indigenous told the Forum. However, hope was also shared. "Indigenous-led conservation is expanding, with resources and decision-making increasingly in the hands of communities," said Global Environment Facility during the session.

During the testimony, Chile's Mapuche testified on the destruction of lithium mining in its high desert. Anishinaabe in the far north spoke on the need to defend the tundra, and their right to sustainable hunting and fishing.

Native Americans in the United States testified on forced sterilization in Indian Health Service hospitals; the violent abuse in boarding schools; and the violence and arrests of Native Americans in Minneapolis during the U.S. government's massive raids on immigrants, and deportations, which left two people dead.

Final Priorities: The Damage by Extractive Industries in Central and South America

The final report of the session recognizes the work of Ecuador with the Forum -- but it also calls on Ecuador to uphold Indigenous rights, following increased oil and gas destruction in Ecuador.

The restoration of the Amazon by governments from the destruction of extractive industries is also a priority in Friday's final report.

This focus on Ecuador comes after Indigenous testified that oil and gas drilling has accelerated and the rivers, water and land are being poisoned. The final report also calls on the World Heritage sites to uphold Indigenous rights. This follows testimony from vast desert areas, and regions where local community rights have superseded those of Indigenous in Africa.

Indigenous women in Brazil are leading by example. The Forest Warriors patrol 170,000 hectares of the Amazon, combining ancestral knowledge with technology to stop fires and protect their land. 

This year's focus was on health and upholding well-being in conflict zones.

U.N. Desa Sustainable Development said, "As Indigenous Peoples, we consider health and well-being as more than physical and mental: It is interconnected with culture, spirituality, our lands and our environment."

Winnemem Wintu Chief Caleen Sisk attends side session on global violence and need for peace building on Earth Day. The Winnemem Wintu testified during the session that the U.S. is denying its people federal recognition in California.

During more than 60 side events, Indigenous from Kenya, Colombia, and Kyrgyzstan described the global violence. Indigenous homes have become “war zones" as guns, drugs, human traffickers infiltrate their land and lives.

Chair Kotier's Statement as Session Concludes

Chair Kotierk pointed out the long history of progress as the session concluded on Friday, the U.N. Forum stated on Friday.

“This Forum has consistently elevated what the world too often ignored,” said Permanent Forum Chair Aluki Kotierk (Arctic Region) in closing remarks.

“It has brought visibility to the crisis of Indigenous Peoples’ languages, affirmed the rights and leadership of Indigenous women and girls, and ensured that Indigenous Peoples’ voices are not only present - but heard - in international decision-making.”

Above all, she thanked the Indigenous delegates and representatives for their presence, perseverance and “unwavering commitment” to the dignity and rights of Indigenous Peoples.

“This Forum is an expression of you,” she affirmed. “It listens to your demands. It carries your concerns. And it elevates your solutions.”

With Chair Aluki Kotierk (Arctic region) presiding, the Permanent Forum then adopted its draft procedural report as a whole, including procedural chapters I to IV, as orally revised, with the understanding that the Rapporteur will finalize it, including the draft decisions and recommendations as just adopted, with the support of the Secretariat.

U.N. Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples Jennifer Tauli Corpuz for the session in 2026

U.N. Permanent Forum Statement on Priorities

Kicking off an afternoon of action, the Permanent Forum adopted the individual decisions and recommendations of its 25th session - introduced and orally revised Rapporteur Jennifer Tauli Corpuz - contained in its draft procedural report (document E/C.19/2026/L.2).

The draft decisions covered topics including: the International expert group meeting on the theme “Enhanced participation of Indigenous Peoples”; venue and dates of the Permanent Forum’s 26th session; and the report and provisional agenda of the Permanent Forum for its 26th session.

The recommendations covered topics including: the Interregional, intergenerational and global dialogue; discussion on the theme “Ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ health, including in the context of conflict”; and the human rights dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Indigenous Peoples' Health: In New York, Taiwan makes its voice heard on the sidelines of the 25th session (2026) of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous which concluded Friday.

Copyright Brenda Norrell, Censored News, May 1, 2026