The Permanent Forum regrets the outcome and impact of the “Indigenous Voice” referendum on Indigenous Peoples, in particular Indigenous youth, held in Australia in 2023, which undermines their journey towards the full realization of the right to self-determination for Indigenous Peoples. The Forum urges the Government of Australia to implement the Declaration.
The Permanent Forum is deeply concerned about circumstances in which Indigenous Peoples are deprived of essential services and experience violence, including gender-based violence. The Forum urges Member States and United Nations entities to protect displaced Indigenous Peoples, including refugees, and calls upon the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to conduct global and regional studies, by 2026, on the needs of displaced Indigenous Peoples and to update the Forum at its 2025 session. Furthermore, the Forum urges UNHCR to join the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Issues.