EU Statement - HRC60 - Interactive dialogue with the Chair-Rapporteur of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
60th session
Interactive dialogue with the Chair-Rapporteur of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
24 September 2025
EU statement
Mr/Ms President, Distinguished Members of the Expert Mechanism, distinguished Indigenous representatives,
The EU reiterates its commitment to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This includes the right to maintain and develop their own economic systems and to engage freely in all their traditional and other economic activities.
That means economic policies and decisions taken by states which are affecting Indigenous Peoples’ economy, their lands, territories or resources have to be taken respecting UNDRIP, including consulting them in order to obtain their free, prior, informed consent.
It is a sad paradox that on the one hand, the crucial role played by Indigenous Peoples in preserving ecosystems and preventing deforestation namely through sustainable economic activities has often been emphasised, while on the other hand, Indigenous Peoples are disproportionately and severely impacted by those very same effects of climate change through inter alia drought, desertification, flooding, and rising sea levels.
This paradox is even more tragic given the fact that, as we face the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, Indigenous Peoples’ expertise, traditional knowledge and economic practice have the potential to lead us towards more sustainable and equitable outcomes. Indigenous Peoples’ insights about local ecosystems and their sustainable use for economic activity can offer the whole world ideas and solutions to protect and restore our natural environment, as well as to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Distinguished Members of the Expert Mechanism,
Could you share best practice of measures to protect Indigenous traditional economies while contributing to the empowerment of Indigenous women as economic actors?