Background:

Indigenous Peoples (IPs) constitutes 6.5% of global population and are protecting 80% of the world’s biodiversity. Indigenous communities have for a long time protected and rejuvenated their land, covering around 22% of the world's land is located within traditional indigenous territories. Their collective way of life, Indigenous knowledge and practices have close ties with their land, territories and resources. This demonstrates the proficiency of indigenous communities in coexisting harmoniously with nature.

Contribution and role of Indigenous Peoples in sustainable development have been recognized gradually. International policy instruments like UNDRIP, ILO 169, 2nd World Conference on Indigenous Peoples Outcome document 2015 and CEDAW GR 39 on Indigenous Women and Girls, specific to IPs, are evidence of hard earned recognition through persistence and strong movements globally. While celebrating and cherishing the progress made, remembering the contribution of IPs movement and leaders, the ground realities need to be collectively reflected, synthesized and  way forward strategies to be paved.

Despite the fact that Indigenous peoples are the guardians of nature [mother Earth], and who play a very vital role in natural resources management, they have been mistreated and marginalized for ages. They experience chronic health conditions and lower socio-economic status and lower life expectancy, compounded by the extreme impacts of climate change and disasters. They are approximately three times more likely to live in extreme poverty and make up roughly 19% of the extremely poor (UNOCHR, n.d.). Therefore, we have to work with and for indigenous peoples to amplify Indigenous voices and Indigenous-led solutions promoting intersectional lens and diversity within our movements.

, a skill that is not yet fully understood by other communities. So, in such a harsh time of climate crisis, Indigenous peoples must be active and key players of the development, conservation, management and utilization of natural resources but also engage in mitigating the emerging issues as their basic human rights.

Indigenous peoples carry millenia-old traditional knowledge about the land and biodiversity that is embedded in their cultures and languages. This knowledge is passed down from one generation to the next, making Indigenous elderly and women the original storytellers and keepers of their traditions and oral history, and in turn providing young people with the power to shift the dynamics of the world.

Thus, a Global Indigenous People’s Forum will be hosted during the World Social Forum 2024 that is being held in Nepal from 13 to 19 February 2024. This event will be led by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities of Nepal (NEFIN), Youth Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities (YFIN), Nepal Indigenous Women's Federation (NIWF), National Indigenous Disabled Women Association Nepal (NIDWAN) along with other like minded organizations. Over 35.8% of Nepal’s populations are indigenous people who speak over 125 languages and have many distinct cultures and practices.This event aims to reflect the progress, issues and way forwards through facilitating dialogue, cooperation, and substantial participation in promoting the collective rights and wellbeing of indigenous populations across the world.

Objectives:

The event is aimed to attain the following objectives: 

1.   To organize 3 major forums / events during the WSF 2024
2.   To amplify the voices and issues of IPs globally that are impacting the collective right  and well being of the IPs, especially the women and children.
3.    To promote indigenous wisdom, culture and knowledge to the wider audiences globally as the equal partner for sustainable development