A major session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues has opened at UN Headquarters in New York, focusing on improving healthcare access for Indigenous Peoples, particularly in conflict settings. The gathering is expected to bring together more than 1,000 participants, continuing the forum’s 25-year role in elevating Indigenous issues on the global stage. Addressing the opening, UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised Indigenous communities as vital protectors of biodiversity and leaders in climate action across regions from the Amazon to the Arctic.
Despite their contributions, significant inequalities persist. Indigenous Peoples make up around six percent of the global population but account for nearly 19 percent of those living in extreme poverty. Re-elected forum chair Aluki Kotierk, an Inuit leader from Canada, highlighted ongoing discrimination and marginalisation, noting that Indigenous communities worldwide face shorter life expectancy, higher rates of chronic illness, and alarming suicide levels. Environmental degradation of ancestral lands, including pollution and climate change, continues to worsen health outcomes.
Speakers stressed that Indigenous views of health go beyond physical and mental well-being, encompassing culture, spirituality, language, and connection to land. Kotierk called for health systems to be “decolonized” to reflect these holistic perspectives and support self-determined approaches. Guterres reinforced that Indigenous rights are inseparable from their lands and ecosystems, warning that conflict and displacement further threaten their health through loss of livelihoods, food insecurity, and cultural disruption.
Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly, described the disparities as both a moral and development failure, pointing out that Indigenous communities often suffer higher rates of preventable diseases and significantly lower life expectancy—sometimes by as much as 20 years. She also highlighted the heightened risks faced by Indigenous women, including disproportionately high maternal and infant mortality.
The Secretary-General called on governments to uphold commitments under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and ensure their full participation in decision-making processes. He emphasized the need for stronger protections for Indigenous leaders and human rights defenders, as well as meaningful inclusion of women and girls in shaping policies that affect their communities.
Established in 2000 under the United Nations Economic and Social Council, the forum advises on issues spanning economic development, culture, environment, education, health, and human rights. Its 25th session, running from 20 April to 1 May, will also address progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and other key global priorities.
