Guyana to advance indigenous peoples’ rights at UN Forum

Delegations from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and the Amerindian Peoples Association are set to attend the 24th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII).

According to a release, APA’s President, Mario Hastings, and Policy Officer Don Stoll and Communications and Visibility Officer Lakhram Bhagirat will be pushing Indigenous rights at the forum.

The forum will be held from 21 April to 2 May 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York under the theme “Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples within United Nations Member States and the United Nations system, including identifying good practices and addressing challenges.”

The release said the forum aims at translating the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) into tangible actions within both UN Member States and the broader UN system.

The release also noted that the session will focus on sharing effective practices and addressing obstacles in the implementation process.

The forum provides expert advice and recommendations to ECOSOC and UN agencies, promotes awareness of Indigenous issues, and works to ensure the full implementation of the UNDRIP, which Guyana has adopted.

The APA team attending will work with its partners to amplify the voices of Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples at the forum, bringing a fuller perspective of the experiences of Guyana’s peoples.

For the APA, participation at the forum is part of its ongoing mission to promote and defend the rights of Indigenous Peoples across Guyana.

The UNPFII addresses Indigenous issues across six key thematic areas: economic and social development, culture, environment, education, health, and human rirights.

The release noted that Hastings brings to the forum a wealth of leadership experience, having served as Toshao of Kako Village, Chair of the Upper Mazaruni District Council, and member of the Executive of the National Toshaos Council. His participation at the UNPFII underscores the APA’s commitment to ensuring all Indigenous perspectives are represented at all levels of decision-making—locally, nationally, and globally.

A team from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, including representatives of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), will also be attending the forum.

UNPFII is a high-level advisory body to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), established in 2000.