The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, G.A. Res. 61/295, was adopted on September 13, 2007, by the United Nations General Assembly, after more than 30 years of work and negotiations. One hundred and forty-three UN Member States voted to adopt the Declaration and four voted against. All four countries that voted “no” have since changed their positions and now support the Declaration.
Enhancing the Participation of Indigenous Peoples’ Representatives and Institutions in Meetings of Relevant United Nations Bodies on Issues Affecting Them
On September 8, 2017, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/71/321 entitled “Enhancing the Participation of Indigenous Peoples’ Representatives and Institutions in Meetings of Relevant United Nations Bodies on Issues Affecting Them.”
This resolution is a result of a process that began with a commitment by Member States, during the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples in 2014, to consider the participation of indigenous peoples at the United Nations. The process continues based on decisions made by the General Assembly.
A Report of the Secretary-General entitled “Enhancing the Participation of Indigenous Peoples’ Representatives and Institutions in Meetings of Relevant United Nations Bodies on Issues Affecting Them” was released on July 27, 2020.
- U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs Roundtable Discussion with Representatives of the U.S. Government, U.S. Federally Recognized Tribal Nations, and other U.S. Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations (Invitation) - April 13, 2021
- U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Virtual Public Briefing: Assessing COVID-19 and the Broken Promises to Native Americans (Save the Date and Call for Public Comments) - July 17, 2020
- Letter from Indian Law Resource Center: Meeting in Quito, Ecuador on January 5-12, 2020, to discuss how to enable Indigenous peoples’ governments to participate in the United Nations.
- Letter from Indian Law Resource Center: President of the General Assembly conducted an informal interactive hearing on April 17, 2018, on enhanced participation of indigenous peoples representatives and institutions (governments) at the United Nations.
- Letter from Indian Law Resource Center: On September 8, 2017, the General Assembly adopted a compromise resolution agreeing to extend consideration of its work to enable the participation of indigenous governments at the United Nations through its 75th session in 2020-2021.
- Letter from Indian Law Resource Center: The United Nations has now finalized a short draft resolution which includes a decision to delay any concrete action to enable the participation of indigenous peoples' representative and institutions (governments) at the UN until 2020-2021. The resolution is expected to be officially adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 8, 2017. - August 23, 2017
- Statement from Indian Law Resource Center: U.S. Withdrawal from Paris Agreement Harmful to Indigenous Peoples - June 2, 2017
- Report from Indian Law Resource Center: Report back from UN consultations on indigenous participation - May 23, 2017
- Report from Indian Law Resource Center: Report on the United Nations work to enable the participation of indigenous peoples’ representative institutions (IPRIs) at the UN: February 27-28 Consultation - March 20, 2017
- Letter from Indian Law Resource Center: Final UN Consultations on participation on April 26 and May 3, 2017
- Statement from Indian Law Resource Center: U.S. Fails to Attend Human Rights Hearing and Sets Ominous Precedent - March 24, 2017
- Letter from Indian Law Resource Center: The next consultation on how to enable the participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives and institutions (governments) at the United Nations will take place on February 27-28, 2017, at UN Headquarters in New York City
- Letter from Indian Law Resource Center: The next consultation on how to enable the participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives and institutions (governments) at the United Nations will take place on January 30-February 1, 2017 at UN Headquarters in New York City.
- Memo from Indian Law Resource Center: The Need for Tribal Nations to Participate in Follow-up to the United Nations World Conference on Indigenous Peoples - March 11, 2016
- Letter from the President of the General Assembly: Consultation roadmap concerning the ways to enable the participation of Indigenous Peoples’ representatives and institutions in meetings of relevant UN bodies on issues affecting them - October 18, 2016
- Compilation and Annex A-70-990 from the General Assembly: Compilation of views on possible measures necessary to enable the participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives and institutions in relevant United Nations meetings on issues affecting them, and of good practices within the United Nations regarding indigenous peoples’ participation. - July 25, 2016
- Memo from the Indian Law Resource Center: Enabling the Participation of Indigenous Governing Institutions at the United Nations - November 2016
- Submission supported by the Aboriginal Commission on Human Rights and Justice, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, the Metis Nation, the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, and the United South And Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund: Enabling the Participation of Indigenous Governing Institutions At the United Nations - April 8, 2016