SIRGE Coalition to Attend the 24th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
April 1, 2025 - The Securing Indigenous Peoples Rights in the Green Economy (SIRGE) Coalition is pleased to announce its participation at the 24th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) from April 21 - May 02, 2025, at the UN Headquarters in New York. The UNPFII is one of three UN mechanisms specifically addressing Indigenous Peoples' issues, focusing on economic and social development, culture, education, environment, health, and human rights. SIRGE Coalition will be joined by representatives of its member organizations, Tallgrass Institute, Cultural Survival, Batani Foundation, and Earthworks.
The theme of this year's UNPFII is "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." As the demand for minerals used for electric mobility and renewable energy technologies continues to grow and new threats and challenges arise for Indigenous Peoples' rights in the energy transition, it is critical to ensure that Indigenous Peoples' rights, including Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and Self-determination, are upheld.
In its current formulation, the so-called energy transition has been anything but just for Indigenous communities around the world. This new wave of extractivism on Indigenous lands - this time in the name of the energy transition - has brought increased environmental destruction and human rights abuses into our homes. Heightened geopolitical tensions risk exacerbating these problems, as countries compete for mineral resources, prioritizing control over human rights and environmental due diligence. Efforts to weaken already frail environmental regulations are widespread, as countries prioritize investment over sustainability. This is true of the European Commission's Omnibus proposal, which marks a major setback for corporate sustainability policies such as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the Taxonomy Regulation, which could lead to further human rights abuses against Indigenous Peoples.
At the same time, several mining standards are being developed to guide responsible practices in transition minerals supply chains. However, many of these standards still fall short in ensuring the full and equitable participation of Indigenous Peoples, providing access to critical information, and guaranteeing the genuine implementation of Indigenous Peoples' rights, including Free, Prior and Informed Consent. On the other hand, the UN Secretary-General’s Panel’s recommendations on Critical Energy Transition Minerals are a step forward in recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ rights. However, a specific, actionable recommendation focused on Indigenous Peoples is needed to effectively implement Indigenous Peoples´ rights.
At the 24th Session of UNPFII, SIRGE Coalition will address these challenges and amplify Indigenous voices to demand stronger protections, accountability, and meaningful participation in policies that impact Indigenous Peoples' lands and livelihoods. Below are details of the side events SIRGE Coalition is organizing with partners.
Mining Standards: Can They Effectively Uphold Indigenous Peoples’ Rights or Simply Enable Corporate Self-Regulation?
Date: April 24, 2025
Time: 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Languages: English, Spanish
Co-sponsors: SIRGE Coalition, Batani Foundation, Earthworks, Tallgrass Institute, STP, Cultural Survival, IWGIA.
Room: CR-12, UN Headquarters NYC
Over the past few years, several mining standards have been developed to guide responsible practices in transition minerals supply chains, impacting Indigenous Peoples' rights and livelihoods. However, many of these standards still fall short in ensuring the full and equitable participation of Indigenous Peoples, providing access to critical information, and guaranteeing the genuine implementation of Indigenous Peoples' rights, including Free, Prior, and Informed Consent.
Mining companies and investors often tout voluntary standards as a means of ensuring responsible practices, but do these frameworks truly uphold Indigenous Peoples rights? This panel will critically examine the effectiveness of mining standards in protecting Indigenous Peoples' rights, lands, territories and livelihoods. Indigenous leaders and experts will discuss whether these standards serve as meaningful accountability mechanisms or if they merely provide companies with a tool for corporate self-regulation. The discussion will also explore the risks of mining standards replacing legislation and Indigenous self-determination in decision-making processes.
Together we will share strategies to advocate for the recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples' rights throughout the transition minerals supply chains, with particular attention to standard-setting platforms. We have seen the consequences when companies hold all the power to design standards, often prioritizing their interests over Indigenous Peoples rights. To drive real change, we must ensure that Indigenous voices shape the policies and practices that affect our lands, communities, and futures.
Objectives:
Discuss whether voluntary mining standards genuinely protect Indigenous People’s rights or serve as corporate self-regulation tools.
Highlight the risks of relying on mining standards instead of binding legislation and the potential for undermining Indigenous Peoples’ governance.
Advocate for strengthening accountability mechanisms, including stronger legal protections and Indigenous-led oversight.
Amplify Indigenous voices and ensure Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives are central to the discussion on mining governance and accountability.
Examine the risks to Indigenous Peoples from proposed mining standards like the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative.
Moderator: Bryan Bixcul, SIRGE Coalition
The UN Secretary-General Panel on Critical Minerals: Advocating for the Inclusion of an Actionable Recommendation on Indigenous Peoples' Rights
Date: April 24, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Languages: English, Spanish
Co-sponsors: SIRGE Coalition, Batani Foundation, Earthworks, Tallgrass Institute, STP, Cultural Survival, IWGIA.
Room: CR-12, UN Headquarters NYC
The global demand for transition minerals is accelerating as countries shift to renewable energy. Yet, Indigenous Peoples—who steward much of the land where these minerals are found—continue to face exclusion, rights violations, and environmental degradation. Indigenous Peoples call for the creation of an Integrated Framework to ensure the protection of their rights in critical energy transition mineral (CETM) projects.
This event will advocate for the formal inclusion of an actionable recommendation on Indigenous Peoples within the implementation phase of the UN Secretary-General’s Panel on CETM principles. Speakers will underscore the need for a dedicated, enforceable framework to safeguard Indigenous Peoples' rights—ensuring Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), promoting benefit-sharing, and integrating Indigenous-led environmental stewardship.
The discussion will highlight concrete steps that governments, financial institutions, and companies must take to embed justice, equity, and Indigenous leadership in the energy transition. It will also serve as a key platform to share the outcome document from the Indigenous Peoples' Summit on Just Transition.
Objectives:
Advocate for the formal inclusion of Actionable Recommendation 6: Integrated Framework for the Protection of Indigenous Peoples' Rights in Critical Energy Transition Minerals Projects-Push for its recognition as a core component of the UN’s work on transition minerals.
Ensure that Indigenous Peoples’ self-determination and FPIC are non-negotiable principles in CETM projects.
Showcase successful Indigenous-led governance models, benefit-sharing agreements, and environmental stewardship initiatives.
Call for concrete commitments from governments, the private sector, and financial institutions to take specific steps toward embedding Indigenous rights protections into critical mineral supply chains.
Advocate for independent monitoring, grievance mechanisms, and enforcement tools to prevent rights violations in CETM projects.
Present the outcome document titled Indigenous Peoples Principles and Protocols for Just Transition.
Representatives from SIRGE Coalition attending the 24th Session of UNPFII include Galina Angarova, Executive Director, Bryan Bixcul, Global Coordinator, and Noreen Quadir, Communications Coordinator.
For more information, please contact:
Noreen Quadir at noreen@sirgecoalition.org