EU Statement - Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: Human rights dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and the Expert Mechanism on the[...]

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The European Union welcomes this dynamic exchange between the UN Indigenous Peoples' mechanisms. We would like to express appreciation for the work that you so diligently carry out in fulfilling your important and complimentary mandates.

The latest report of the Special Rapporteur explains eloquently how, through the recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples, as set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and in international human rights law, green financing can promote sustainable practices for mitigating and adapting to climate change, and conserving biodiversity that positively impact Indigenous Peoples. By taking the particular needs of Indigenous Peoples into account, including them in all stages of project planning and implementation, and acknowledging traditional knowledge and values as essential components of global sustainability efforts, green financing can create a stronger positive impact for all.

Indigenous Peoples play a crucial role in the global effort to address environmental challenges, combat climate change, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Their critical knowledge is a critical part of global efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change and halt biodiversity loss.

Despite contributing very little to global greenhouse gas emissions, Indigenous Peoples are custodians of vast carbon stores within their territories, where an estimated 80 per cent of the world's remaining biodiversity is also found. As such, Indigenous Peoples act as vital protectors of biodiverse ecosystems and forests.

The EU is deeply concerned about acts and threats of violence against Indigenous Peoples including in the context of protection of their lands and natural resources.

Indigenous human rights defenders play a key role in addressing environmental degradation and climate change. The EU condemns in strongest terms cases of murder, and the increasing cases of threats, harassment, reprisals, as well as land grabbing, arbitrary forced evictions and other abusive practices.

The EU is keenly aware of the need to ensure that the green transition is a just transition. The bold decisions and initiatives required to move away from fossil fuels need to fully respect and protect human rights including the rights of Indigenous Peoples as set out in UNDRIP in order to be sustainable. The EU has been guided by this principle in its policy making, including in the EU Deforestation Regulation, the EU Critical Raw Material Act and the EU Corporate Sustainable Due Diligence Directive.

This leads me to our question: how can EU and its Member States improve the full, effective and meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples in the context of designing of green finance policies and projects?