International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) Joins as a New Affiliate of SIRGE Coalition
SIRGE Coalition is thrilled to announce our new affiliate member, International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA).
IWGIA promotes and defends Indigenous Peoples’ collective and individual rights, including in climate action and the global transition to a "green" economy. IWGIA is a global champion with decades of experience and valuable expertise working to support Indigenous Peoples in fulfilling their political, economic, cultural, and environmental rights. SIRGE Coalition looks forward to collaborating with them on finding solutions to ensure a just transition.
IWGIA's direct work with the government in Denmark and other strategic partners, as well as at the international level, including at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, and the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, will contribute valuable expertise and opportunities in SIRGE Coalition’s ongoing work. Together, we aim to make sure that Indigenous Peoples’ rights to land, resources, and their self-determination are respected and protected.
Kathrin Wessendorf, the Executive Director of IWGIA, said, “IWGIA is delighted to join the SIRGE Coalition. A just transition requires that we build strong alliances and stand together to find solutions based on human rights and Indigenous Peoples’ rights for the benefit of all.”
“SIRGE is delighted to announce the International Working Group on Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) as an affiliate member,” said Galina Angarova, Executive Director of SIRGE Coalition. “With our wealth of collective experience and expertise, we aim to drive a transformative shift in how governments and businesses interact with Indigenous Peoples. IWGIA's involvement represents a pivotal partnership in advancing our shared goals, and we look forward to collaborating closely to make meaningful progress together.”
“On behalf of the Executive Committee, we welcome IWGIA as an affiliate member of the SIRGE Coalition,” said Kate R. Finn, Executive Director of First Peoples Worldwide and Chair of the SIRGE Coalition Executive Committee. “Their work to defend Indigenous Peoples’ collective and individual rights and to promote inclusion in climate action and participation in domestic and international decision-making processes is vital in the global energy transition. Together we are united to secure the rights of Indigenous Peoples in the green economy and to ensure Indigenous Peoples participation in sustainable and just economic development.”
Pavel Sulyandziga, Chair of the Steering Committee at SIRGE Coalition, added, “I am very pleased that such a reputable organization, respected among Indigenous peoples for its dedicated work in protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples, has joined the Coalition. By uniting together, we can do so much more. I am confident that IWGIA will greatly strengthen the work of the SIRGE Coalition.”
About SIRGE Coalition
The Securing Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in the Green Economy (SIRGE) Coalition is a coalition of Indigenous Peoples and leaders, who, along with our allies, champion a just transition to a low-carbon economy. The SIRGE Coalition launched on August 9, 2022, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Members of the Coalition include Cultural Survival, First Peoples Worldwide, Batani Foundation, Earthworks, and the Society for Threatened Peoples.
The SIRGE Coalition’s primary goal is to elevate Indigenous leadership through the creation of a broad coalition and the promotion of constructive dialogue. In accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the coalition will uphold all rights of Indigenous Peoples, including their cultures, spiritual traditions, histories, and especially their rights to determine their own priorities as to their lands, territories, and resources. Indigenous leadership is essential as Indigenous Peoples conserve about 80 percent of the planet's remaining biodiversity.