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The Position of Indigenous Peoples on the COP27 Cover Decision

COP27, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt | 11 November 2022

The International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) collectively requests Parties to support the following language to be included in the COP27 Cover Decision. Recognising that there is universal support from Parties for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007), and that Parties recommitted to upholding the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples Outcome Document (2014), the IIPFCC considers the following proposals to be the standard for upholding the Rights of Indigenous Peoples when addressing loss and damage.

We request that Parties include the following in the preamble of the COP27 Cover Decision to ensure compliance with the rights of Indigenous Peoples: 

● Acknowledging that climate change is a common concern of humankind, Parties should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights, the right to health, the rights of indigenous peoples, local communities, migrants, children, persons with disabilities and people in vulnerable situations and the right to development, as well as gender equality, empowerment of women and intergenerational equity

● Recognizing that to avert loss and damage, including non-economic loss and damage, associated with the adverse effects of climate change, the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples in addressing and responding to climate change, in compliance with the rights of Indigenous Peoples, is essential.