EU Statement – 25th Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: Ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ health, including in the context of conflict

EU Statement - 25th Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: Ensuring Indigenous Peoples' health, including in the context of conflict

21 April 2026, New York - Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States at the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 25th Session 2026 on Agenda item 3: Discussion on the theme "Ensuring Indigenous Peoples' health, including in the context of conflict"

Chair,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro*, Serbia*, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, as well as Armenia, and the United Kingdom align themselves with this statement.

The EU and its Member States are firmly committed to upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples, as set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and international human rights law.

We welcome that this year's theme focuses on "Ensuring Indigenous Peoples' health, including in the context of conflict". In this context, we would like to remind that the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health is universally recognized, and that the health disparities faced by Indigenous Peoples remain deeply concerning. Overall, Indigenous Peoples experience disproportionately poor health outcomes. Too many - particularly those in remote or isolated areas - face severe barriers in accessing healthcare. Too often, treatment, support, and awareness-raising efforts are not adapted to Indigenous Peoples languages, further exacerbating vulnerabilities.

Health systems must be responsive to the physical and mental needs of Indigenous Peoples. Health frameworks need to recognise Indigenous Peoples' medical knowledge and cultural healing systems where appropriate.

Conflict situations aggravate these challenges, often disrupting essential services, destroying infrastructure, and undermining Indigenous healing systems. Indigenous women face heightened exposure, including due to the disproportionate distribution of care responsibilities. Indigenous children, elderly and Indigenous Peoples with disabilities face specific health risk combined with reduced mobility and limited access to specialized services.

We need to ensure that Indigenous Peoples, who are among the most affected by conflicts, are consulted and have equal access to participating in peace processes. We also need to ensure their effective and meaningful participation in all relevant UN meetings on issues affecting them. Furthermore, Indigenous human rights defenders must be protected from reprisals.

The EU and its Member States continue to provide needs-based humanitarian health and medical assistance in fragile contexts, where displacement, food insecurity, climate-related disasters, violence, and epidemic outbreaks disproportionately affect people in vulnerable situations, including Indigenous women and children.

The EU also continues to support Indigenous-led initiatives. This includes the Indigenous Navigator which enables Indigenous Peoples in 26 countries to monitor the implementation of their rights. The EU further supports Docip which empowers Indigenous Peoples to defend their rights, engage with international human rights mechanisms, and participate in global decision-making.

I thank you, Chair.

1. ^North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.