UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples

The project supports the United Nations (UN) Voluntary Fund to enhance the meaningful participation of Indigenous peoples at the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. These two key UN bodies are devoted to Indigenous issues as well as the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). These UN bodies facilitate the mechanisms to build the expertise of beneficiaries enabling them to be effective participants in UN human rights mechanisms and more effective duty bearers within their respective communities through mentoring programs information sessions and training.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased number of Indigenous peoples' participation in UN meetings and in decision-making processes; (2) increased representation of Indigenous women in UN meetings and processes as a means of empowering Indigenous women including emerging leaders at the international level; (3) enhanced effectiveness of diverse information and views submitted to Treaty Bodies system and the UPR leading to the international Human Rights Mechanisms providing targeted expert advice on Indigenous issues and on related issues; and (4) increased advocacy by Indigenous peoples' representatives at local and national level.