14 July 2025
Delivered by: Ambassador Jürg Lauber, President of the United Nations Human Rights Council
At: 18th session of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Location: Room XIX, Palais des Nations
Madam Chairperson,Distinguished members of the Expert Mechanism,Distinguished representatives of Indigenous Peoples and Member States,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with great pleasure that I open the 18th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. I welcome the members of the Expert Mechanism, as well as the different delegations attending the session as observers. I wish to congratulate Ms. Antonina Gorbunova and Ms. Anexa Alfred Cunningham on their recent re-appointment as members of this expert body, and Ms. Valmaine Toki for her re-appointment as Chair. I also welcome Mr. Albert Barume, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; Ms. Aluki Kotierk, Chair of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; and Ms. Jane Meriwas, member of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples.
The meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples in United Nations processes is crucial in advancing their rights. I warmly welcome all Indigenous representatives, including the 13 beneficiaries of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples, which celebrates this year its 40th anniversary. I would like to thank the States supporting the Fund that allows Indigenous Peoples to engage in key United Nations meetings, including this one and the Universal Periodic Review.
In this context, I reaffirm the importance of Indigenous Peoples being heard at the Human Rights Council and across the broader United Nations system. Their voices carry unique perspectives on self-determination, climate justice, cultural preservation, linguistic rights, access to land and natural resources, and sustainable development. Ensuring that their voices are included in the work of UN bodies is not only a matter of inclusion, but of justice, equity, and respect for the rights affirmed in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The Human Rights Council is aware of the important work undertaken by the Expert Mechanism and carefully considers the proposals that it submits for its consideration.
It has strongly encouraged all relevant stakeholders, including States and Indigenous Peoples, to attend and participate actively in the sessions of the Expert Mechanism, to submit contributions to its studies and reports and to engage in dialogue with it.
The Council has further encouraged all parties to consider the Expert Mechanism’s invitation to country engagements at the request of States and Indigenous Peoples. This enables the Expert Mechanism to implement its mandate comprehensively.
The participation of Indigenous Peoples’ representatives and institutions in the meetings of the United Nations organs and their subsidiary bodies is essential. This is especially important in bodies that are focused on human rights, such as this Council and its Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
In July and October 2024, the Council came together for two intersessional meetings mandated by resolution 54/12. These meetings allowed States, relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, international organizations, Indigenous Peoples from the seven Indigenous sociocultural regions, national human rights institutions and civil society organizations to discuss concrete ways to enhance the participation of Indigenous Peoples in the Council’s work.
I would like to acknowledge the co-facilitators for this process, Australia, Canada and the Indigenous co-facilitator Mr. Binota Moy Dhamai, and draw your attention to the report and recommendation they have produced jointly with OHCHR.
The Human Rights Council has welcomed the Expert Mechanism’s proposal regarding further efforts to facilitate the participation of Indigenous Peoples and has decided to develop further steps and measures necessary to enable and to facilitate their participation in the Council’s work.
In addition, the Council has requested me to continue organizing the participation of Indigenous Peoples from the seven Indigenous sociocultural regions for the interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples and with the Expert Mechanism. This will be done in consultation with the Expert Mechanism and with the support of the Office of the High Commissioner, as of the 60th session of the Council this September.
Distinguished participants,
Let me now briefly come back to this 18th session of the Expert Mechanism to highlight the panel discussions taking place this week. Later today you will review the Expert Mechanism’s work at country level. Throughout the week, you will hold discussions on the role of national and regional human rights institutions in achieving the ends of the Declaration. You will also take stock on progress regarding the International Decade on Indigenous Languages.
The Council is looking forward to your study and its advice on the rights of Indigenous Peoples to data, including data collection and disaggregation - a topic with a variety of societal, ethical and human rights implications. We also look forward to your report on the rights of Indigenous Peoples to their traditional economies - a theme that is essential for cultural preservation, sustainable development, and economic independence.
I would like to conclude my remarks by mentioning the very pressing issue of intimidation and reprisals against Indigenous Peoples’ representatives attending United Nations meetings and against United Nations mandate holders working on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. This Council has condemned the increase in cases of intimidation, harassment and reprisals against Indigenous human rights defenders and Indigenous leaders, including Indigenous women, as well as Indigenous Peoples’ representatives attending United Nations meetings.
I would like to recall that intimidation and reprisals constitute a serious attack, not only against those courageous enough to stand up for human rights, but also against the very essence and proper functioning of the United Nations system itself. I call on everyone - States and others - to respect and protect persons cooperating with and representing the United Nations System. My office will keep a watchful eye over allegations of intimidation and reprisals during this meeting and throughout the year.
I wish you all very successful deliberations and am looking forward to the continued cooperation between the Human Rights Council and this Expert Mechanism.
Thank you.