Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Dennis Francis,
at the High-level event to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the outcome document of the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples
17 April 2024
[As Delivered]
Mr. Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs,
Your Excellency, Mr. David Choquehuanca Céspedes, Vice President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia,
Excellencies,
Representatives of Indigenous Peoples,
Let me begin by thanking Jake Edwards – leader in the Onondaga community – for his beautiful welcome and, as a mark of respect, acknowledge our presence in this place on the indigenous lands of the Lenape People.
It is a great honour for me to welcome all delegates – especially representatives of Indigenous Peoples, who have traveled from far and wide to join in this important commemoration.
We gather today to mark the 10th anniversary of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples – an historic moment when world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples, everywhere.
In its outcome, the Heads of State and Government affirmed their support for the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – a milestone instrument prescribing minimum standards for the recognition, protection, and promotion of these rights.
Over the past decade, there have been some further important achievements here at the UN, including:
- the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, recognizing the strong link between the rights of Indigenous peoples and sustainable development, with its core promise – to leave no one behind – committing Member States to both achieve and improve the well-being of those most vulnerable in our societies, including indigenous peoples.
- the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, from 2022-2032, which aims to not only preserve and revitalize Indigenous languages – but to also safeguard the rich tapestry of Indigenous cultures, traditions, wisdom, and knowledge that sustain our societies.
- And just months ago, in December 2023, the General Assembly decided to consider possible further measures to enhance the participation of Indigenous Peoples in UN meetings on issues affecting them during the current session.
As indicated yesterday at the opening of the 23rd Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, I appointed two co-facilitators and two Indigenous Peoples advisers for this important process.
Despite these strides, Indigenous Peoples still are more likely to live in extreme poverty – still more likely to suffer from the adverse impacts of climate change, and still more likely to face dispossession and eviction from ancestral lands, as well as having unequal access to health and education, compared to other groups.
Indigenous women are still three times more likely to experience sexual violence than non-Indigenous women in their lifetime – I repeat, three times.
The persistent lack of legal recognition and scant disaggregated data only compound the invisibility of the true plight of Indigenous peoples across our societies.
We must acknowledge that deep chasms endure between the commitments made over the years and the lived realities of Indigenous Peoples today.
We must intensify our actions to translate the landmark 2007 UN Declaration into meaningful change on the ground.
Excellencies,
We must start by acknowledging that our planet’s lands, waters, soils – and vast ecological systems – are intimately connected with the identities, cultures, and livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples.
Capitalizing on the first-ever Sustainability Week underway in the General Assembly currently, let us reaffirm this fact.
In myriad ways, it is thanks to Indigenous Peoples – as guardians of 80 per cent of the world’s biodiversity – and the sophisticated traditional knowledge and practices they employ that we have seen gains in the conservation and sustainable use of our increasingly threatened biodiversity.
We must harness the potential of Indigenous knowledge and innovations to mitigate the harmful effects of climate change and to address the combined challenges of food insecurity, biodiversity loss, desertification, and land degradation.
Where Indigenous Peoples manage land – forests and biodiversity flourish.
Indigenous youth are, in turn, keepers of these teachings, passed down inter-generationally.
And – as empowered individuals with a clear and proud understanding of their identities and its deep connections to ancestral traditions – they have much to offer in our collective endeavors to protect our planet’s most valued treasures.
If we hope to make a difference in our trajectory to 2030, the transfer of indigenous knowledge across the generations is not only vital to our efforts – it must be protected, preserved, and regularly encouraged.
Indigenous youth are often forced to walk between two worlds, navigating modern societies that have historically marginalized them – while cultivating deep and loyal connections to their Indigenous heritage.
No child, no child should need to make such choices.
We must ensure that indigenous children and youth have access to quality education in their native languages, without conditions – that their songs, dance, stories, and environmental stewardship are not only recognized but cherished and appreciated as essential dimensions of the evolution of our civilization.
Excellencies,
Representatives of Indigenous Peoples,
Chief Tamaqua was known as the great peacemaker of the Lenape people.
His word was renowned in an era of diplomacy when spoken words were viewed as sincere only if accompanied by a belt of truth – or wampum – worn by the negotiator and associated with all agreements or discussions between nations.
In these trying times – where peace is under severe threat, and dialogue and diplomacy are in dire need – let us be an example of constructive dialogue to honour our commitments to Indigenous Peoples.
Let us ensure that our words – proudly imprinted in the UN Declaration in 2007 and offered today – are backed by actions that show we are relentless in our pursuit of a safer and more sustainable future for all peoples, leaving no one behind.
Wanishi
[I thank you.]
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