Who Are Indigenous Peoples?

Indigenous peoples are descendants of the original inhabitants of territories that later became modern nation-states. They maintain distinct social, cultural, economic, and political institutions and often retain strong connections to their ancestral lands and natural resources.

Indigenous cultures are highly diverse. However, many Indigenous peoples share historical experiences of colonization, land dispossession, forced assimilation, discrimination, and marginalization. These processes have had long-lasting social, economic, and cultural impacts.

Today, Indigenous peoples continue to advocate for recognition of their rights, self-determination, and protection of their cultural heritage.

Global Context

Current estimates suggest there are approximately 476 million Indigenous peoples worldwide, living in more than 90 countries and representing about 6% of the global population.

Although Indigenous peoples make up a relatively small share of the global population, they account for a significant proportion of the world’s cultural and linguistic diversity. At the same time, they are disproportionately affected by poverty, land conflicts, environmental degradation, and climate change.

Emergence of the International Indigenous Movement

Organized Indigenous political movements began emerging in the early 20^th century in different regions, including North America and Scandinavia. However, the modern international Indigenous rights movement gained momentum in the 1960s and 1970s, alongside global decolonization processes and civil rights movements.

The principle of self-determination, affirmed in the 1960 UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, later became central to Indigenous rights advocacy.

The United Nations and Indigenous Rights

In 1982, the United Nations established the Working Group on Indigenous Populations, marking a significant step toward international recognition of Indigenous issues.

After more than two decades of negotiations between states and Indigenous representatives, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13 September 2007.

UNDRIP affirms key rights, including:

• The right to self-determination
• Rights to lands, territories, and resources
• The right to maintain and strengthen cultural traditions and languages
• The principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)
• The right to participate in decision-making affecting their communities

Although UNDRIP is not legally binding in the same way as a treaty, it is widely regarded as the most comprehensive global framework for Indigenous rights and increasingly influences national legislation and court decisions.

UN Mechanisms Supporting Indigenous Peoples

Several UN bodies now focus specifically on Indigenous issues:

• UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)
• Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP)

These mechanisms monitor implementation, provide recommendations, and facilitate dialogue between Indigenous peoples and states.

Ongoing Challenges

Despite advances in international law and awareness, many Indigenous communities continue to face:

• Land and resource conflicts
• Environmental and climate-related impacts
• Socioeconomic inequality
• Language loss and cultural erosion
• Limited participation in governance

Implementation of international standards varies widely between countries, and ensuring meaningful participation and respect for Indigenous rights remains an ongoing global challenge.