OHCHR and indigenous peoples

About indigenous peoples and human rights

Attacks on indigenous peoples’ human rights defenders have increased dramatically in recent years for defending their collective rights to lands, territories and resources. Their cultures continue to be threatened, and the protection and promotion of their rights resisted. These conflicts and human rights violations result in the displacement and dispossession of indigenous peoples.

Indigenous women and girls face additional forms of discrimination. They are three times more likely to experience sexual violence compared to non-indigenous women. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these vulnerabilities.

Furthermore, the lack of legal recognition and the lack of disaggregated data are contributing to the invisibility of indigenous peoples, compounding the discrimination they face. This calls for reinvigorated efforts to address the negative legacy of historical injustices, discrimination, and assimilation that indigenous peoples have been subjected to over centuries. 

Read more about indigenous peoples and human rights.

Our work on indigenous issues

The UN Human Rights Office carries out a range of country-specific and regional activities to advance the rights of indigenous peoples. In particular, we:

• Support legislative change at national level and provide legal analysis and expert advice on relevant policies and legislation;
• Facilitate dialogue and cooperation with a wide range of actors including State authorities, parliamentarians and national human rights institutions;
• Develop tools and guidance on the rights of indigenous peoples;
• Contribute actively to the Inter-Agency Support Group (IASG) on Indigenous Issues, notably to implement the UN system-wide action plan on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
• Coordinate a fellowship programme for indigenous young people, offered in four languages;
• Support the UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples;
• Provide secretariat support to the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
• Provide secretariat support to the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Read more about OHCHR’s work on indigenous peoples and human rights.

Key documents

CEB Call to Action on Building an Inclusive, Sustainable and Resilient Future with Indigenous Peoples (2020)

UN System Wide Action Plan on indigenous peoples (2015)

Fact Sheet 9: Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Human Rights System (2013)

UNDRIP: A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions (2013)

Latest resources

Briefing Paper on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and the 2030 Agenda (2017): The 2030 Agenda has the potential to be transformative for indigenous peoples, if its implementation respects these principles. The 2030 Agenda consists of 17 goals and 169 targets of which 73 have substantial links to the UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples. PDF: English