Two Decades After UNDRIP Adoption, Nations Still Fail Indigenous Rights: Advocates Demand Action at UN Forum

Nearly 20 Years After UNDRIP, Indigenous Rights Remain Unfulfilled

Nearly two decades after the United Nations adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in 2007, advocates and Indigenous leaders say countries are still failing to live up to their commitments. Despite the declaration’s adoption, Indigenous peoples continue to face violence, criminalization, and land dispossession.

Calls for Action at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Last week, at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)—the world’s largest gathering of Indigenous peoples—leaders urged nations to fully implement UNDRIP and other international human rights standards. The forum serves as a critical platform for Indigenous voices to demand accountability.

UNDRIP’s Global Impact and Initial Opposition

Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2007, UNDRIP established international standards for Indigenous rights, including land, language, health, and self-determination. Initially, a handful of countries, including the United States and Canada, opposed the declaration but later adopted it. However, advocates argue that these nations—and others—have not followed through on their obligations.

Demands for Independent Monitoring of UNDRIP Implementation

Kenneth Deer, a member of the Mohawk Nation of Kahnawà:ke, delivered a joint statement on behalf of the Canadian Coalition for the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples. He called for the establishment of independent monitoring systems to ensure governments comply with UNDRIP.

“You need to have a group of independent, Indigenous individuals who will have access to how the government is implementing the declaration. They should be able to study what they’re doing and make an evaluation whether they’re being effective or not, and then whether there’s failures. They need to highlight those failures to the government, and that’s how you get effective implementation.”

“To implement the declaration, they need a watchdog. They need somebody over them to make sure they’re carrying out their responsibilities.”

Deer acknowledged the complexity of the process, emphasizing the necessity of an oversight body to hold governments accountable.

Cultural and Spiritual Health: The Role of Indigenous Languages

Moses Goods, a member of the Kanaka Maoli Nation of Hawai’i, highlighted the deep connection between language, identity, and health under UNDRIP. He stressed that language is not just a form of communication but a vital link to culture and well-being.

“Language is a link to our culture. It’s a link to who we are as a people and our identity, which is linked to health. When you take those things away, the health of the people start to decline.”

“It was intentionally taken away from us as Indigenous people, as Indigenous Hawaiians, so that we would decline. And it worked to a degree, until now.”

Land Dispossession and Environmental Threats

Goods also pointed to the ongoing erosion of Indigenous lands, citing recent wildfires in Lahaina, Hawai’i as an example of displacement and cultural disruption. Despite these challenges, he emphasized the importance of solidarity among Indigenous peoples.

“We keep telling our stories, we keep telling the truth over and over again to each other, and we strengthen each other.”

Key Takeaways

• UNDRIP was adopted by the UN in 2007 to protect Indigenous rights globally.
• Advocates say nations, including the U.S. and Canada, are failing to implement UNDRIP.
• Leaders at the UNPFII demand independent monitoring to enforce compliance.
• Indigenous languages and lands remain under severe threat, impacting cultural and spiritual health.
• Solidarity and storytelling are critical to preserving Indigenous identities and rights.