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The Indigenous World 2022

We are excited to announce that The Indigenous World 2022 is out now and available on our website.

For 36 consecutive years IWGIA has published The Indigenous World, which is a unique result of a collaborative effort between Indigenous and non-Indigenous activists and scholars who voluntarily document and report on the situation of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. This yearly overview serves to document and report on the developments Indigenous Peoples have experienced throughout 2021.

The Indigenous World 2022 adds not only documentation, but also includes a special focus on the contribution and situation of Indigenous women and their rights around the world.

We launched the book on 28 April as a virtual side event of the 21st session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. In case you missed the launch event, which focused on the experiences of Indigenous women, you can watch it here.

Want a physical copy of The Indigenous World 2022?

The Indigenous World 2022 is always available for free online, but we have printed a limited number of English copies if you would like us to send you 1 copy.

Make a donation of 20 EUR to cover postage here.

Then send us an email at iwgia@iwgia.org to let us know you’ve made the donation and would like a copy.

We also have limited quantities of The Indigenous World 2021 in English if you would like us to send you 1 copy along with the new edition. A very small quantity of the book in Spanish may become available as well, just let us know in your email what you would like and we’ll let you know what we can do.

Or consider becoming an IWGIA member for 30 EUR, which also gets you the physical book and other benefits.

Side events at the 21st session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

IWGIA held and was part of several other virtual side events, apart from The Indigenous World 2022 launch, at the UN Permanent Forum. In case you missed them or want to watch them again, you can find them here:

Presentation of the IACHR thematic report:
“Right to Self-Determination of Indigenous Peoples”

This side event presented the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IAHCR) thematic report on the “Right to Self-Determination of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples". The event aimed to make visible practices, experiences, and challenges that Indigenous Peoples face in the recognition and exercise of their right to self-determination in the Americas; and strengthen synergies between the work of the UNPFII and the IACHR to advance the operationalisation of Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination.

Addressing human rights of Indigenous Peoples
in SDG 14 and the blue economy

The right to lands, territories and natural resources is essential for the millions of Indigenous eople across the globe depending on fisheries for their livelihoods, food security and nutrition. However, the human rights situation of Indigenous Peoples engaged in fisheries and aquaculture and their contribution to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture has received limited attention. This side event aimed at drawing attention to the human rights issues faced by Indigenous Peoples engaged in fisheries and aquaculture, in the context of the UNPFII’s discussions on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the need to recognize and respect Indigenous Peoples’ land and resources rights.

Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Development
on the Ground

During this side event, local Indigenous leaders from Latin America, Africa, the Arctic and Asia shared their experiences in advocating for the respect and implementation of their rights and the critical role of the Indigenous Navigator in monitoring the rights of Indigenous Peoples and enhancing Indigenous Peoples’ opportunity to collect data on their situation.

The Right to Free Prior Informed Consent
and the Duty of Due Diligence

The event explores the difference that binding standards on due diligence will bring to Indigenous communities resisting projects that may harm their rights. It will highlight the European Commission’s draft Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence and how the FPIC element could be strengthened there, and in the human rights due diligence provisions of the draft treaty on business and human rights.

Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in the context of Business Experiences

This event presented and discussed specific experiences of Indigenous Peoples on the impacts to their rights by business activities, as well as the Indigenous Peoples’ Business and Human Rights Roadmap. It also provided an avenue for exchange and interaction between Indigenous Peoples and relevant actors in advancing the respect and protection of Indigenous Peoples’ rights on the ground in relation to business.

Strengthening democracies in Asia: recognition of Indigenous Peoples right to self-determination

The discussion focused on the critical examination of the implementation of UNDRIP in Asia -- its achievements, challenges and opportunities, as well as what is needed to build political mobilization to open up spaces for governance reforms that will ensure self-determination of Indigenous Peoples, and how and with whom partnerships are built to sustain this agenda at all levels.

Latest updates from IWGIA

Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

As an instrument for the conservation and protection of natural and cultural heritage sites, which affords sites recognized as “World Heritage sites” an additional level of protection beyond domestic laws and regulations, the World Heritage Convention (“the Convention”) can play, and in some cases undoubtedly has played, a positive role for Indigenous Peoples by helping to protect their lands and territories, as well as their cultural heritage and traditional ways of life, from development pressures such as extractive industry activities or threats posed by major infrastructure projects.

However, the establishment and management of protected areas worldwide has often resulted in Indigenous Peoples’ dispossession and alienation from their traditional lands and resources, forced evictions, restrictions on the traditional use of resources, loss of livelihoods and access to sacred sites, and other injustices and human rights violations committed against Indigenous Peoples.

IWGIA inputs to the Report on violence against women and girls in the context of the climate crisis

The submission outlines the impacts of climate change, main challenges and opportunities in relation to the climate crisis, facing Indigenous women and girls, who make up roughly 2.5% of the global population, and who are among those contributing the least to climate change but suffering the most from the effects of climate change and environmental degradation.

Debates Indígenas is a joint initiative between IWGIA and Ore. It is a digital magazine that aims to address the struggles, achievements and challenges of Indigenous Peoples, grounded in an understanding and perspective of their territories and communities, bringing academic knowledge and the commitment to activism together into one forum. Our vision is to become a means of communication and reference for Indigenous Peoples, as well as a tool that contributes to the defence of human rights and nature.

Read the latest articles here.

Especial: Pueblos Indígenas frente al Narcotráfico

Artículos de Coyuntura

Debates Indígenas in English

Radio Encuentros is IWGIA's Spanish audio resources platform. The radio programmes address different aspects of the situation of Indigenous Peoples and are free to download. (Spanish).

We are continuously digitising and uploading our extensive library of publications