Monday April 21, 2025, marks the opening of the 24th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) is in New York to address the many pressing issues in the Arctic and global affairs, while welcoming Inuk leader Aluki Kotierk as chair of the Permanent Forum.
This week, leaders of the world’s Indigenous Peoples convene in UN New York for the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to discuss the theme “Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples within United Nations Member States and the United Nations system, including identifying good practices and addressing challenges”.
While many States dial back their support for the UN and human rights, Inuit stand firm in asserting their status, rights and role. ICC Chair Sara Olsvig leads the ICC delegation and will address a range of issues throughout the first week of the session.
“We are facing uncertain times – in the UN and globally. This is the time to stand firm on our rights and status as Indigenous Peoples. We must maintain our perseverance in not letting our rights be devalued, and we must insist on States dialing up their accountability”.
“As global attention to our Arctic homelands increases, Inuit refuse to be divided by state interests. There is simply no such thing as a better colonizer. We refuse to be treated as figures on a chessboard of power politics. On the contrary, we insist on dignified and diplomatic dialogues, and we insist on putting our values – including fundamental human rights – at the forefront.”
Inuk leader Aluki Kotierk elected Chair of the Permanent Forum
As a consultative body of the UN, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues provides the most important venue for Indigenous Peoples worldwide to address States as well as the UN system. This year, the Forum members have elected Ms. Aluki Kotierk (Nunavut, former President of NTI) as Chair.
“We are extremely proud to welcome the election of Aluki Kotierk as Chair of the Permanent Forum. ICC has together with the Saami Council nominated Ms. Kotierk to serve for a second term as member of the Permanent Forum. The work of the Forum is immensely important in ensuring implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by States and within the UN system”, says Sara Olsvig.
Women’s rights, critical minerals, and impacts of colonization
The Permanent Forum program includes a yearly dialogue on the rights of Indigenous Women – a call ICC made two years ago.
“Colonization has resulted in systemic discrimination against Indigenous women and girls, who are still at greater risk of human rights violations. ICC will continue to address the rights of Inuit women and form alliances with other Indigenous women in addressing these injustices”, says Sara Olsvig.
ICC participates in a long list of UN processes throughout the year and will highlight both good practices and address challenges as the Permanent Forum debates Indigenous Peoples’ participation across the multilateral and regional systems.
“Although we have achieved improvements in many areas, such as the establishment of formal UN platforms to ensure Indigenous Peoples’ participation in climate and biodiversity negotiations, we are also seeing devaluation of our rights and lack of access to negotiations. We will address these issues and express our concern about the continued defunding of the UN. These stepsback put the rights of Indigenous Peoples at risk”.
The two weeks of the Permanent Forum will include a packed agenda for the ICC delegation. Three youth also join the session, one as a participant of the Inuit Youth Engagement Programme and two as observers.
Having served on the UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, Olsvig is invited to be a panelist on the theme of energy transition. ICC will take part in a number of other events, including on the High Seas Treaty presenting the Pikialasorsuaq Initiative, and meetings with the new UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Dr. Albert Barume.
Link: UN Permanent Forum live stream:
https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k17/k17n6unftr?fbclid=IwY2xjawJzgtxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHpwRAI0dG-yqAilaShJSe3XpHwP21UPOKEXBY61odeCQWOA2iget81kiva2l_aem_oioAvxGhALScsh2SRoq7MQ
