Promoting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
About the Caucus on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
The Indigenous Peoples Caucus within GANHRI brings together National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) committed to the promotion and protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Established in October 2024 with 22 members and the Norwegian Human Rights Institution as co-convener, the Caucus serves as a collaborative space for peer exchange, strategic advocacy, and capacity building to ensure that the rights of Indigenous Peoples remain a key focus within GANHRI and the global human rights agenda.
Highlights
- In July 2026, the Caucus participated in the 19th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), speaking on panels on Indigenous Peoples and artificial intelligence and on preparations for the 20th anniversary of UNDRIP, highlighting the role of NHRIs in advancing implementation.
- In March 2026, the Caucus convened a learning call to examine emerging issues at the intersection of climate change and Indigenous Peoples’ rights, and to explore how NHRIs can uniquely contribute.
- In December 2025, the Caucus joined UNESCO’s 17th Global Task Force for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, with Guatemala’s Procuraduría de los Derechos Humanos sharing how NHRIs document linguistic heritage, support bilingual and intercultural education, and ensure Indigenous communities have a voice in decisions affecting their rights.
- In July 2025, the Caucus was invited to be a panelist during the 18th session of the EMRIP. The topic of the panel was the role of NHRIs in implementing the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and it was an opportunity to showcase the work of the GANHRI Caucus as well as highlight good practices from different members. Click here to read our web story
- In April 2025, the Caucus held a learning call with OHCHR, the Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section, the Focal Point for NHRIs, EMRIP and the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples to discuss opportunities for NHRI engagement at the UN on Indigenous issues.
- In January 2025, the Caucus coordinated and submitted input on Indigenous Peoples’ right to data, including data collection and disaggregation paper for EMRIP study.
Relevant meetings and events
UN meetings
- March, June-July, and September: UN Human Rights Council sessions, Geneva
- April: UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), New York
- July: Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), Geneva
- 9 August: International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
Caucus’ meetings
The Caucus meets online four times a year, with sessions held in February, April, July, and October.
Members
As of October 2025:
NHRI Cameroon
NHRI Canada
NHRI Denmark
NHRI Finland
NHRI Germany
NHRI Guatemala
NHRI Honduras
NHRI Kenya
NHRI Liberia
NHRI Malaysia
NHRI Namibia
NHRI Nepal
NHRI New Zealand
NHRI Norway (convener)
NHRI Panama
NHRI Philippines
NHRI Samoa
NHRI Sierra Leone
NHRI Sri Lanka
NHRI Sweden
NHRI Ukraine
NHRI Zambia
Resources
The members of the Caucus maintain an internal knowledge repository that collects various documents (reports, tools, guidelines, case studies, etc.) to facilitate information sharing.
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| OHCHR webpage about Indigenous Peoples and human rights | The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP): The international instrument affirming the individual and collective rights of Indigenous Peoples, including to self-determination, culture, identity, and land | System-wide action plan for achieving the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples |
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| The Indigenous Navigator: A global data portal providing tools and inspiration by and for Indigenous Peoples and assessing the realisation of their rights | Guidelines for National Action Plans for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages Note: These guidelines are non-exhaustive and aim to summarize the most important stages of the development of national action plans | UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination’s Call to Action on building an inclusive, sustainable and resilient future with Indigenous Peoples |
Advancing Indigenous Peoples’ Rights: GANHRI Strategic Priorities
GANHRI serves as a strategic and global convener of NHRIs in advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Through its Indigenous Peoples Caucus, GANHRI:
- Facilitates information sharing, expertise, and good practices.
- Strengthens institutional capacity and resources through collaborative efforts.
- Coordinates joint activities and projects where feasible.
- Engages with international human rights mechanisms (e.g., UNPFII, EMRIP).
- Raises the visibility of Indigenous peoples’ rights in GANHRI’s advocacy and planning.
The Caucus examines opportunities and synergies with other thematic areas of GANHRI’s work. This includes:
- Exploring intersections with climate change and its disproportionate effects on Indigenous communities.
- Supporting Indigenous human rights defenders.
For more information or to get involved, please contact Catalina Martínez, Human Rights Officer, at info@ganhri.org.
