Implementation of the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Begins at OAS-Convoked Meeting in Mexico City

Press Release

Implementation of the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Begins at OAS-Convoked Meeting in Mexico City

The implementation of the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (ADRIP), a historic document adopted by the Member States of the Organization of American States (OAS) in 2016, began last week in Mexico City during a meeting convened by the OAS. The gathering brought together representatives of Indigenous Peoples, experts designated by OAS Member States, government authorities, and representatives of international organizations, achieving significant progress.

During the three-day First Regular Plenary Meeting of the Working Group on ADRIP (WG-ADRIP), the following milestones were reached:
• Approval of the WG-ADRIP operating regulations, establishing the group's operational foundations.
• Adoption of the 2025-2027 Work Plan, including the creation of thematic groups and an action timeline.

• Election of WG-ADRIP Co-Chairs:
Representatives of Indigenous Peoples:
• June Lorenzo (Laguna Pueblo, United States)
• Juan León (Maya People, Guatemala)

Experts designated by OAS Member States that approved ADRIP:
• Patricia Torres (Purépecha People, Mexico)
• Everardo Chuc Xum (Maya People, Guatemala)
• Progress in designing a template of indicators for national reports on ADRIP implementation.
• Agreement to create thematic dialogues on territorial development, ancestral knowledge, care systems, and the rights of Indigenous women, with participation from CAF, Mexico's National Institute of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples (INPI), the Nahua People of Northeastern Puebla, ECLAC, OXFAM Mexico, UNEP, and other entities.

The meeting also defined commitments and next steps:

• Follow-up on the implementation of the Work Plan, emphasizing cooperation between OAS Member States and Indigenous Peoples.
• Dissemination and education on ADRIP and its Action Plan.
• Coordination with OAS Member States and international cooperation to ensure the sustainability of WG-ADRIP.
• Strengthening of the monitoring mechanism, with technical support from the OAS and its partners.
• Next WG-ADRIP meeting scheduled for the second half of 2026, with the venue to be determined.

"This meeting marks a milestone in the regional commitment to guarantee the collective and individual rights of Indigenous Peoples, promoting their participation and influence in monitoring the implementation of ADRIP," stated Sebastián Kraljevich, OAS Secretary for Strengthening Democracy. "The OAS General Secretariat celebrates this progress and reaffirms its commitment to support the process so that the rights recognized in the Declaration become, as soon as possible, a tangible reality for every Indigenous person in the Americas," he added.

The American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (ADRIP), adopted at the OAS General Assembly in 2016 after 17 years of negotiations, is the first instrument in OAS history to promote and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples in the hemisphere. It recognizes both individual and collective rights and establishes regional standards for their respect and guarantee.

The Working Group on the Implementation of ADRIP is supported by the OAS Department of Access to Rights, wich serves as its Technical Secretariat, providing the institutional and technical support necessary to advance the mandates of the General Assembly and consolidate this hemispheric mechanism.

The meeting was organized by the Department of Access to Rights of the the OAS Secretariat for Strengthening Democracy,, Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Institute of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples (INPI), and the Nahua People of Northeastern Puebla, with support from the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF).

Reference: E-058/25