Statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples

Statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples

Written on 18 May 2026. Posted in News

In the context of the 25th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the current Special Rapporteur, Albert Barume, warned of failures to comply with international standards and urged States to recognise Indigenous self-determination. Dr Albert K. Barume also reaffirmed the need to strengthen multilateralism and the sustained advocacy of Indigenous Peoples: "Rights are never granted on a silver platter; they are secured through the efforts of defenders and victims who stand up to violations".

I am honoured to address this 25th session of the UN Permanent Forum and engage with all participants in this interactive dialogue concerning the human rights situation of Indigenous Peoples. I am glad that this dialogue is held during the first week of the Forum, which helps to ensure wider and more inclusive participation from representatives and partners of Indigenous Peoples.

First of all, I want to offer my congratulations to you, madame Chairperson, on your re-appointment as Chair of the 25th session. I also wish all UNPFII members, especially the new ones, great success.

Madame Chairperson, I will focus my statement on three points today: first, this session's theme of health in the context of conflict; second, an overview of the work of my mandate over the past fifteen months; and third, a few reflections on the broader global context affecting Indigenous Peoples' rights.

I. Reflection on the theme of the UNPFII 25th Session

In conflict settings, Indigenous Peoples often suffer some of the gravest consequences, even though they have contributed least to the crises around them. Their lands are militarised or occupied, their communities are displaced, their leaders are threatened, and access to food, water, health care and education is disrupted. In these circumstances, health must be understood in a broad and holistic sense: not only as access to medical services, but as the ability to live in dignity, in peace, with cultural continuity, and with control over ancestral lands and resources.

II. Overview of activities by the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples

Madame Chairperson, as you are aware, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples is part of the Human Rights Council's system of Special Procedures. These Special Procedures are independent human rights experts tasked with assessing, reporting, and advising on human rights issues, either thematically or by country.

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples operates as a protective mechanism and is structured around four principal pillars: (1) thematic studies, (2) country visits, (3) addressing allegations of human rights violations or abuses, and (4) engaging in additional activities such as technical cooperation, raising awareness, building capacity, and promoting best practices.

I.1. Regarding thematic studies, in September 2025, I submitted my first report to the Human Rights Council. Focussed on recognition, this report highlights three cumulative steps that a State should undertake to recognise Indigenous Peoples as specific rights holders:

First, a State should formally recognise the distinct historical injustices faced by self-identifying Indigenous Peoples within its territory. Recognition is essential for redress; a State cannot remedy what it does not acknowledge. Second, a State should enact constitutional or legal provisions that explicitly recognise Indigenous Peoples as distinct rights holders. This includes incorporating relevant international standards into domestic law and ratifying pertinent international instruments. Finally, a State should undertake administrative registration of Indigenous Peoples within its territory to ensure their cultural integrity and prevent misidentification with other social groups, such as minorities, tribal peoples, marginalised or poor people, peasants, and local communities.

In October 2025, I submitted my second thematic report to the UN General Assembly, focusing on legal protections for Indigenous Peoples' land and territories. The report emphasizes that most Indigenous Peoples now live on the few remaining areas of their ancestral lands after enduring repeated displacements for decades if not centuries. Therefore, since there is no more territory left to retreat to, Indigenous Peoples are increasingly standing up against further encroachment. The report further emphasizes a global high demand for Indigenous Peoples' lands, which is primarily driven by five factors: transition minerals, carbon markets, the expansion of protected and conservation areas, energy transition initiatives, and geopolitical or international security interests involving Indigenous territories. The growing demand for Indigenous Peoples' lands is leading to more persecution and criminalisation of those defending their rights, especially Indigenous leaders. Serious human rights violations-including arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances, militarisation, and unlawful killings-are increasingly affecting Indigenous communities across the globe. In my report, I call upon States to shift the paradigm and adopt a new approach, recognising Indigenous Peoples' self-determination to their lands and territories as a valuable asset to both national and international security. Defenders of Indigenous Peoples' lands, territories and resources should be regarded as allies in the pursuit of justice, sustainability, and peace.

In 2026, my report to the United Nations General Assembly will maintain its emphasis on land rights by analysing States' practices related to demarcation and registration, with the objective of identifying and sharing effective approaches or practices.

I would like to formally announce that during my tenure as Special Rapporteur, I will report on Indigenous Peoples' land rights. These reports will aim to monitor, document, and track the impact of the five aforementioned factors contributing to the high demand for Indigenous Peoples' lands.

My in-preparation 2026 report to the Human Rights Council will address historical and contemporary violations against Indigenous women and girls' reproductive health and rights, a topic brought to the mandate's attention by victims who felt their experiences remained insufficiently recognised and redressed. Furthermore, this report aims to support the comprehensive implementation of CEDAW's General Recommendation No. 39, which was thoroughly discussed during last year's Forum. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has submitted the more than 70 contributions received for this report so far.

I.2. Concerning the second pillar of the SRIP mandate on country visits, I wish to inform the Forum that in September 2025, I officially visited Botswana, where the new President Duma Boko, a former Indigenous Peoples attorney, is placing human rights at the forefront of ongoing legal and policies reforms.

The historical injustices endured by Indigenous Peoples in Botswana over decades should inform and guide the reforms currently underway. Hence, my mission report underscores the urgent necessity for enhanced protection, including constitutional and legal recognition, effective enjoyment of land rights, equal access to justice and services, as well as safeguards for Indigenous languages and cultures.

I wish to express my gratitude to the Government of Botswana for its cooperation, as well as to the UNCT for its support during this visit.

This year, I will conduct an official visit to Australia from 2-13 November. I appreciate the Government of Australia and all individuals who have provided contributions in preparation for this trip. I would also like to acknowledge the Governments of Brazil and Guatemala for extending invitations for country visits, which unfortunately could not take place due to UN budget constraints limiting my mandate to one country mission per year. Additionally, I extend my thanks to the Government of New Zealand for its invitation for a mission in 2027.

I urge more countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, to invite the mandate. Country visits help the Special Rapporteur engage directly with governments and Indigenous Peoples, and offer practical recommendations based on firsthand observation.

To conclude this section on country missions, I want to emphasize that the mandate still struggles with resource shortages, mainly due to persistent underfunding of the United Nations human rights system. This financial constraint limits visits and activities, making cooperation and follow-up from States even more important.

It is important that a Special Rapporteur's country mission is effectively followed up. Accordingly, I urge all stakeholders to seize this window of opportunity for advancing Indigenous Peoples' rights in Botswana and support the Government as well as Indigenous Peoples to translate the political will into effective implementation of rights.

I.3. The third pillar of the SRIP activities - which enables the mandate to receive allegations of human rights violations and abuses directly from Indigenous Peoples and engage States and other actors regarding those claims. I would like to report that in the last fifteen months, the mandate has sent more than 65 communications to States, private sector entities, and other actors. The 29 States engaged are, in alphabetical order: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, Germany, Guatemala, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America and Vietnam.

Recent and notable communications have discussed the experiences of the Ogiek Indigenous People in Kenya, challenges faced by the Māori in New Zealand, the situation of Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts, and the Guarani-Kaiowá in Brazil. They have also covered protests and repression involving Indigenous Peoples in Panama and Ecuador, as well as the effects of extractive and industrial projects on Indigenous communities in Mexico, Kenya, Indonesia, and Tanzania.

The mandate has also addressed communications with private companies, and financial institutions and other non-state actors involved in projects related to fossil fuel extraction, petrochemicals, geothermal ventures, mining, and conservation. These communications underline that businesses, investors, and other entities must exercise due diligence and respect Indigenous Peoples' human rights.

Over the last fifteen months, the mandate has sent out 14 communications to businesses and other non-state actors, including Tullow Oil, Gulf Energy (affiliate Auron Energy E&P), Sikder Group, PROMAN, KFW IPEX-Bank, Gas y Petroquímica de Occidente SA, Sempra Infraestructura, Mexico Pacific Limited, LNG Alliance Pte Ltd Singapore, Instalaciones Energéticas Cosala, Epcilon LNG, Empresa de Servicios Sanitarios Aguas San Isidro and the World Bank Group.

The allegations of human rights violations received by the mandate show five major trends occurring consistently across regions. Number one: There is widespread regression, as many countries are retreating from established standards on Indigenous Peoples' rights, primarily for immediate political and economic benefit. This includes generalised non-implementation of court decisions and growing hate speech against Indigenous Peoples. Number two: Criminalisation of Indigenous leaders and defenders, with Indigenous women leaders facing heightened risks. In Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, and other regions, reductions in civic space and restrictions on peaceful protest have resulted in Indigenous Peoples being perceived as threats to national interests. Numerous Indigenous leaders and individuals, like Daria Egereva and many others, are subject to killings, arbitrary detention, and are compelled to live in hiding. Number three, there is growing pressure on Indigenous territories due to extractive industries, infrastructure development, conservation efforts, and climate-related projects that proceed without proper consultation or free, prior, and informed consent, resulting in displacement. Number Four, many Indigenous Peoples' territories have been occupied by non-State armed groups, criminal trafficking networks, and extremist or terrorist organizations. This has resulted in increased violence, particularly targeting women, and has led to Indigenous Peoples being unfairly classified as terrorists, enemies of the state, or perceived threats to national security and interests. Number Five, Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation remain particularly vulnerable.

Madame Chairperson, there are undeniably rising tensions between Indigenous Peoples and States. Accordingly, I urge States to promptly review their relationship with Indigenous Peoples in order to promote partnership and reconciliation, as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

I.4. The fourth pillar of the mandate is to promote good practices, raise awareness, and provide capacity building. The mandate goes beyond documenting violations; it aims to foster implementation and advance justice, recognition, and reconciliation. To that end, I have worked with various Indigenous Peoples' organizations, academies, CSOs, regional human rights mechanisms such as the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, and UN agencies, including UNESCO and WHO, discussing topics such as the decade for languages and the delisting as a narcotic substance of the coca leaf, which is the sacred for Indigenous Peoples.

III. Reflections on the global human rights trends and impact on Indigenous Peoples

I would like to reflect on how the global human rights situation affects the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Today, we are witnessing an era where human rights standards are often disregarded or actively resisted. This trend arises from heightened scepticism regarding multilateralism and the significance of international law. International law underpins Indigenous Peoples' rights as Nations, making them more vulnerable if multilateral frameworks are weakened or disregarded.

Madame Chairperson, the 25th session of the UNPFII coincides with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the SRIP mandate. I am pleased to announce that this milestone will be commemorated with a side event on Friday, 24 April. The event will feature prominent stakeholders, including former mandate holders such as Professor James Anaya and Ambassador Cali. This is not only an occasion to look back at its impact and draw lessons learned, but also to reflect on the future of the mandate, and to renew our collective commitment to stronger implementation, deeper partnership and more meaningful accountability.

Twenty-five years ago, when the Mandate of the SRIP was established, we lived in a compliance era, where compelling legal arguments grounded in international law would yield results and calls for redress held significant influence. Most countries still viewed international law as the force uniting eight billion people-regardless of their race, culture, development, or religion-into a single human family. Now, that unity is beginning to fracture; international law is questioned and powerful nations increasingly seek their own spheres of influence and attempt to assert dominance over others.

In such a global context characterised by non-compliance or questioning of international standards, there is only one option left for Indigenous Peoples: to stand their ground and continue to demand respect of their rights. Despite the setbacks and disregard for established norms, Indigenous Peoples must remain steadfast and vocal, refusing to be silenced or marginalised. Rights are never given on a golden platter; they are earned through defenders and victims standing up against violations. Indigenous Peoples' persistent advocacy is essential in maintaining visibility and ensuring that their voices are heard on the global stage.

With the view to adjusting the mandate to this new global context, I have introduced new elements to the mandate. I have established regional legal teams to provide Indigenous Peoples with enhanced support and closer access to the mandate as they advocate for their human rights. I am pleased to announce that more than ten young Indigenous lawyers have joined regional teams for Africa, Latin America, Asia, and other parts of the world. These teams focus on communications to enhance the mandate's response capacity and ensure that Indigenous Peoples feel more connected to it.

In closing, I would like to once again commend the work of the Forum, reaffirm my commitment as mandate holder to strengthen collaboration with other UN mechanisms related to Indigenous Peoples. I continue to believe in Indigenous Peoples' ability to surmount challenges and shape their futures as guaranteed by international law. After twenty-five years of this mandate and twenty-five sessions of this Forum, it is clear that Indigenous Peoples' rights are no longer on the fringes of the international system. This is one of the gains to preserve and fight for.

I thank you.

Albert K. Barume was appointed as Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples in December 2024. He has over 25 years of experience working on Indigenous Peoples' rights at national, regional and international levels. He also holds a Master's degree in Environmental Management from Yale University and a PhD in International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex.

Cover photo: Albert Barume during the 25th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Photo: United Nations

Statement published in Debates IndígenasStatement published in Debates Indígenas.

Tags: Indigenous Debates