EU strengthens support for Indigenous Peoples’ rights with new €7 million package

On the occasion of Human Rights Day, the EU is stepping up support for Indigenous Peoples, announcing a new €7 million package to advance their rights and strengthen their participation in decisions affecting their lives.

Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela said: "With this package, we are supporting Indigenous communities with the tools they need to participate in decision-making that affects their livelihoods. This matters because strengthening Indigenous Peoples reinforces our shared efforts for equality and sustainable development."

The package includes €5 million for the Indigenous Navigator, a global initiative created by and for Indigenous Peoples to monitor the implementation of their rights in 26 countries. The EU has supported the initiative since its launch in 2014.

The EU will also provide €2 million to Docip, the Indigenous Peoples' Centre for Documentation, Research and Information. Docip empowers Indigenous communities to defend their rights, access international human rights bodies, and take part directly in global decision-making processes - from the United Nations to climate conferences.

On 9-10 December, the European Commission, the European External Action Service and the Human Rights and Democracy Network will gather over 200 participants - including Indigenous human rights defenders - at the 26th EU-NGO Human Rights Forum in Brussels to discuss how to advance equality and fight discrimination worldwide.

Background

EU programming follows a human rights-based approach anchored in the non-discrimination principle. For instance, almost 85% of newly funded programs under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) are gender responsive and almost half are disability-inclusive, up from 28% in 2023.

Through the Human Rights and Democracy Thematic Programme, the EU funds projects in third countries where indigenous peoples, LGBTIQ+ persons, persons living with disabilities and other minority groups are the main beneficiaries.

Over the last five years, the EU has devoted €6.6 million to projects focused on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in 16 countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, supporting grassroots activists and creating safe spaces for dialogue. The projects address some of the most pressing contemporary challenges related to religious freedom, including the intersections of FoRB with gender equality, peacebuilding, freedom of expression, online hate speech, development, and other critical issues.

The EU has recently initiated projects worth €10.5 million to support the rights of LGBTIQ+ people in Africa, Latin America and the Western Balkans with a focus on increasing resilience and protection. In addition, the EU is strengthening Human Rights Defenders mechanisms, including for LGBTIQ+ human rights defenders, over 9,000 of whom have been supported since 2019.

This work is supported by a strong EU policy framework ensuring the EU's approach to equality and non-discrimination remains consistent and sustained. The recently-approved EU strategies on the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons and on civil society - as well as the forthcoming anti-racism strategy - all contain clear links between our advancement of this agenda within the EU, as well as through our external action. The EU is firmly committed to working on this agenda with a wide range of stakeholders.

Related links

Human Rights Day: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union