Commemorations of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

High-level commemorations on the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), provide a space for States, UN funds, agencies and programmes, and indigenous peoples to evaluate the progress made and assess the challenges in the implementation of the UNDRIP at all levels.

Find a below information of all High-level Commemorations and other events that celebrate the adoption of the UN Declaration at UN Headquarters in New York.

High-level Commemorations

Tenth Anniversary (2017)

High-level 10th Anniversary Commemoration

On Tuesday 25 April 2017, the President of the 71st session of the General Assembly organized a high-level event to mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

This event took place at the General Assembly Hall at 10:00 am.

Objectives
The event is in follow up to the General Assembly decision to convene a high-level event to mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to be held during the seventy-first session of the General Assembly, in 2017 (Resolutions A/RES/69/159, A/RES/70/232 and A/RES/71/178).

This high level event event took stock of achievements made since the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, to identify ongoing persistent challenges and obstacles and to consider good practices. It provided an opportunity to review the commitments made by Member States in the outcome document of the 2014 World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. Participants had an opportunity to make concrete commitments to further increase their efforts to implement the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Format
The high-level event was convened by the President of the General Assembly on 25 April, 2017 at the General Assembly Hall, during the annual session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. This is in order to take advantage of the presence of high level dignitaries from Member States and high number of indigenous peoples’ representatives from across the globe. In view to facilitate the participation of indigenous peoples, the Forum temporarily suspended its morning session.

The high-level event consisted of an opening segment and a high-level plenary meeting. In the opening segment the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General and Key Note Speakers delivered remarks. The three UN mechanisms on the rights of indigenous peoples’ were also invited to speak. During the high level plenary meeting the list of speakers rotated between Member States and indigenous peoples’ representatives.

Conference Room 4 was used as the overflow room for the morning session of the High-level event.

Nomination for speakers from the seven socio-cultural regions of Indigenous Peoples

The Office of the President of the General Assembly invited indigenous peoples to nominate one speaker from each of the seven socio-cultural regions to address the informal High-Level Event to mark the 10th Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Right of Indigenous Peoples [see Concept Note].

Representative nominated by African Region
Representative nominated by Asia Region
Representative nominated by Central and South America, and the Caribbean Region
Representative nominated by Arctic Region
Representative nominated by Central and Eastern Europe, the Russian Federation, Central Asia and Transcaucasia
Representative nominated by North America
Representative nominated by the Pacific.

Relevant information:

Background

According to General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/70/232) adopted on 23 December 2015, the General Assembly:

“4. Reaffirms the decision to convene a high-level event to mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to be held during the seventy-first session of the General Assembly, in 2017, and that the event will take stock of the achievements of the preceding 10 years and assess the remaining challenges for the rights of indigenous peoples, and also consider the further follow-up to the Declaration, including the consideration of a third International Decade;”

And according to General Assembly resolution (A/RES/69/159) on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, of 18 December 2014, the General Assembly:

“5. Decides to convene a high-level event to mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to be held during the seventy-first session of the General Assembly, in 2017, and that the event will take stock of the achievements of the preceding 10 years and assess the remaining challenges for the rights of indigenous peoples, and also consider the further follow-up to the Declaration, including the consideration of a third International Decade;”

Fifth Anniversary (2012)

According to General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/66/142) adopted on 19 December 2011, the General Assembly:

“6. Request(ed) the Secretary-General, in coordination with the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, to convene, within existing resources, a high-level event during the eleventh session of the Forum to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in order to raise awareness of the importance of pursuing its objectives;”

Following the provisions of the resolution, a High-level Commemoration of the Fifth Anniversary of the Adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was held on 17 May 2012.

Programme

Programme of work

Webcast

Webcast of the High- Level Commemoration

Statements and messages

Press Conference

Other Commemorative Events

Ninth Anniversary (2016)

On 13 September 2016, the United Nations celebrated the ninth anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by drawing attention to the continued relevance and importance of the UN Declaration today.

The day started with a press conference, where Chandra Roy-Henriksen, Chief of the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, in UN DESA’s Division of Social Policy and Development, Reaghan Tarbell, indigenous film maker, and Americo Mendoza-Mori, Professor and founder of Quechua language programme at the University of Pennsylvania, gave their perspectives on the UN Declaration and why it is still crucial today as a tool to ensure the rights of indigenous peoples.

In the evening, the anniversary of the UN Declaration was marked with an indigenous film event about indigenous peoples and cultural survival in cities. Several hundred people came to the United Nations to see the screening of “From Brooklyn and Back: A Mohawk Journey” by Mohawk film maker, Reaghan Tarbell” and “Bronx Llaktamanta” by Quechua film maker, Doris Loayza – two films that tell the stories of indigenous peoples, sustaining their communities, languages and identities in New York, far from their ancestral homes.

The film event opened with remarks by the Director of UN DESA’s Division for Social Policy and Development, Ms. Daniela Bas, who emphasized the relevance of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in implementation of the 2030 Agenda – and welcomed indigenous artists and film makers and their important role in promoting indigenous cultures.

After the film screenings, the two indigenous film makers, Reahan Tarbell and Doris Loyaza, were joined by Segundo Angagamarca who runs a Kichwa Radio Programme in New York. The three engaged in a Q&A session with the moderator, Damian Cardona Onses, Acting Chief of the Communications Campaigns Service in the United Nations Department of Public Information.

Useful links

UN DESA coverage