UNPFII Side Event, Item 3: Discussion on the theme “Enhancing Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination in the context of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of[...]

UNPFII Side Event, Item 3: Discussion on the theme "Enhancing Indigenous Peoples' right to self-determination in the context of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: emphasizing the voices of Indigenous Youth"

Yon Fernandez- de-Larrinoa, Head, Indigenous Peoples Unit, FAO

16/04/2024

Honourable Elders, Experts, Indigenous leaders and delegates, Indigenous Youth and members of the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus.

FAO congratulates Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim as elected chair.

FAO also acknowledges and thanks Dario Mejia Montalvo´s leadership.

Our Sister Makalanani Gomes spoke loud and clear.

There is need to end conflict, violence and wars if we are to defeat hunger, poverty and malnutrition.

There is need to end discrimination, marginalization and displacement of Indigenous Peoples to have their rights respected.

In October 2023, Indigenous Youth reminded us at the UN Global Indigenous Youth Forum, that peace and harmony are possible and the importance of looking 7 generations behind and 7 generations ahead in our decisions.

While in 2021, 136 Indigenous Youth crafted online the Rome declaration of Indigenous Youth, in 2023 the II Session of the Indigenous Youth Forum gathered in Rome 186 Indigenous Youth.

Indigenous Youth voiced their concerns, aspirations, and solutions on food insecurity, climate change and biodiversity loss at the 2023 Rome Indigenous Youth Forum.

Our thanks to those who travelled, participated in the discussions and contributed to the Declaration on Indigenous Youth.

Our recognition to those who could not travel due to visa issues. We look to the day when transit visas will be abolished.

Thanks to the work, since 2019, of the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus, the II session of the UN Global Indigenous Youth Forum in 2023 was a success in terms of content, policy discussions, attendance and results.

FAO thanks UNPFII and EMRIP for opening the Rome UN Global Indigenous Youth Forum and UN organizations and foundations for their support.

Special thanks to Norway for making possible the Rome Forum and to the other 13 countries in the Coalition on Indigenous Peoples food systems, who joined the policy discussions with Indigenous Youth.

The resulting 2023 "Rome Declaration on Safeguarding Future Generations in Times of Food, Social, and Ecological Crisis" enables us all to work with a document that is aligned with the UNSWAP and UNDRIP and makes recommendations for UN Agencies, Member states and Indigenous Peoples.

We cannot end hunger and malnutrition without Indigenous Youth.

We cannot preserve Indigenous Peoples food and knowledge systems without Indigenous Youth.

FAO is committed to support Indigenous Youth voices in policy processes.

Such as, the CFS 2026 work on Indigenous Peoples food systems, the negotiations of CBD Article 8J on Indigenous Peoples as custodians of genetic diversity, and the review of the Pesticides code of conduct.

In closing, FAO will continue implementing UNPFII recommendation number 90 supporting Indigenous youth.

We thank those who joined in 2023 the Indigenous Youth forum, and invite you all to join us in 2025 in Rome to continue working on Indigenous Youth for 7 generations to come.