All Parties and stakeholders to the Rio conventions should implement the principles and guidelines for direct access funding for Indigenous Peoples’ climate action, biodiversity conservation and fighting desertification for a sustainable planet. The vision of the initiative that led to the drafting of the principles and guidelines is to establish a permanent, independent, Indigenous-led global fund to support coordination, knowledge-sharing and advocacy globally, advancing biodiversity conservation, climate action and the protection of life.
The Green Climate Fund, the Cali Fund for the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits from the Use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources, the Tropical Forest Forever Facility and the Adaptation Fund should ensure direct access to finance in support of Indigenous-led mitigation and adaptation projects and ensure the representation and participation of Indigenous Peoples in their governing bodies.
Indigenous Peoples are encouraged to participate in the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development. States should explicitly reference issues of relevance to Indigenous Peoples, including direct access to financing and partnership with Indigenous Peoples, in the outcome document of the Conference.
The Permanent Forum welcomes the request for the President of the General Assembly, through Assembly resolution 79/159, to convene a high-level panel to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2027. The meeting should be entitled “Second World Conference on Indigenous Peoples” and should serve to review the implementation of the outcome document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples of 2014 and recent developments pertaining to the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The enhanced participation of Indigenous Peoples in the event must be ensured. The Forum urges United Nations entities, financial partners and others to support Indigenous Peoples in organizing the preparatory meetings for the high-level event.
The Permanent Forum reiterates the recommendations of its eighteenth session and urges the Secretary-General to appoint a special envoy or special adviser, in consultation with Indigenous Peoples, to raise awareness of and promote the rights of Indigenous Peoples and to provide support in the follow-up to the outcome document of the World Conference.
The Permanent Forum notes that Indigenous Peoples have long struggled to have their voices heard at the United Nations in New York, Geneva and other venues. The Secretary General’s UN80 Initiative, under which all United Nations activities and the current liquidity crisis are being reviewed, should not result in the diminished participation of Indigenous Peoples’ representatives at the United Nations; rather, it should serve as an opportunity to enhance the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples, including by finalizing the processes outlined in General Assembly resolution 71/321.
The Permanent Forum supports the convening of a fourth seminar on treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements between States and Indigenous Peoples, to be organized in conjunction with the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The Permanent Forum welcomes the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in General Assembly resolution 78/327 and requests that States ensure their effective and meaningful participation throughout the preparatory processes leading up to the United Nations Water Conferences of 2026 and 2028. This includes facilitating the registration of Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and representatives, promoting full engagement in all process stages and adopting an approach aligned with the Declaration.
The Permanent Forum urges the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, ahead of its World Conservation Congress of 2025, to reaffirm Indigenous Peoples’ inherent rights to their lands and territories in accordance with the Declaration, including where these overlap with protected areas. The Forum rejects conservation models that undermine Indigenous Peoples’ governance and customary law.
The Permanent Forum recognizes the practical difficulties of organizing its sessions in New York due to barriers to participation faced by Indigenous Peoples. In line with Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/22, it will consider alternate venues.
The Permanent Forum requests that Member States donate to the trust fund on Indigenous issues, which is managed by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The fund provides crucial support to the Forum and its follow-up on recommendations to fully implement the Declaration.
