Anaya Appointed to Facilitate UN Indigenous Rights Consultations

On Feb. 26, James Anaya, Regents' Professor and James J. Lenoir Professor of Human Rights Law and Policy and Co-Chair of the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy program, was appointed by the president of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly as a co-facilitator for consultations to consider means of enhancing Indigenous peoples participation within the UN system.

Resolution 70/486 calls on the UN General Assembly president to convene a series of consultative sessions to develop recommendations on what procedural and institutional reforms are necessary to ensure meaningful participation by Indigenous peoples and institutions on issues affecting their rights and self-determination. The sessions will bring representatives from UN member states, delegates from Indigenous communities and institutions, and leaders in the field of Indigenous peoples’ rights to develop strategies to more effectively engage Indigenous communities and ensure that UN policies and programs are responsive to the needs and aspirations of Indigenous peoples worldwide. Additionally, the consultations will gather recommendations from participants on existing best practices and potential reforms, which will form the basis of a draft resolution to be refined and adopted by the UN General Assembly.

Anaya is one of two advisors nominated by Indigenous peoples and will use his expertise in the field of Indigenous human rights to share strategies and emerging best practices for the inclusion of Indigenous peoples within the UN system. Emphasizing the importance of these sessions, Anaya notes that, “There are many procedural and institutional barriers within the UN system that hinder the full inclusion of Indigenous voices. I applaud the UN General Assembly’s initiative to finding solutions and look forward to helping formulate reforms to address this persistent issue.”