UNESCO at UNPFII: Advancing Media Development for Indigenous Peoples

Apr 22, 2024
In the margins of the 23rd United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, UNESCO promotes freedom of expression and media development for Indigenous Peoples.

The media is fundamental to facilitate the meaningful inclusion and engagement of Indigenous Peoples in society, contributing to freedom of expression, broad respect for diverse opinions and peaceful coexistence. At its 22^nd session in 2023, the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) recognised the importance of media development to safeguard and promote Indigenous Peoples’ rights. UNPFII mandated UNESCO to conduct a study on Indigenous Peoples and the Media in partnerships with UN entities, Indigenous organizations, media organizations and civil society, to present the findings at its annual session in 2025.

A further step to safeguard and promote Indigenous rights, recognising the importance of media development for Indigenous Peoples, was taken in the recent resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (A/RES/78/189, paragraph 41) and the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/54/12, paragraph 11) in 2023.

On 23 April 2024, in the margins of the 23^rd session of UNPFII, UNESCO and partners will promote the multistakeholder event “Follow up to the UNPFII recommendations: Indigenous Peoples and the Media”. On this occasion, the progress made on the study on Indigenous Peoples and the Media will be presented to the members of the Permanent Forum.

The event will cover the three following aspects:

Reflection on major takeaways from past research and fieldwork experience

Mr Harry Van Issum and Ms Heather Anderson, from the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research of the Griffith University in Australia, will present the first results of the literature review conducted globally in the fields of communication, journalism, media and Indigenous studies. The researchers from the Griffith University will as well present the methodological framework and the survey instrument for data collection to be used in the study.

Debate and considerations for a representative and evidence-based study
Mr Francisco Calí Tzay, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and Ms Valmaine Toki, Vice-Chair of representatives of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Issues (EMRIP), will share their views on the implementation of the Article 16 on media of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, highlighting the importance of advancing media development for Indigenous Peoples.

Also part of the panel, Mr Robert Doane, from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), will introduce the CBC/Radio-Canada National Indigenous Strategy, which was adopted by the national public service broadcaster to reflect and amplify diverse Indigenous perspectives across CBC earlier in 2024.

To conclude the debate, Ms Francine Compton, of the Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA), will provide an update on the ongoing work of its more than 850 members, including Indigenous, freelance, independent and mainstream media professionals, as well as academics and students covering Indigenous communities and representing Indigenous peoples around the world.

Elaboration of concrete suggestions for future action

The event will serve as a forum to discuss strategies to address the identified gaps, challenges and limitations of the study, and to facilitate dialogue among media organizations, including media established by Indigenous Peoples, national public service broadcasters, and media experts, bringing into light strategic recommendations to be included in the study and appropriate future actions.

The event will have interpretation in English and Spanish, with in-person participation and online transmission on UN Web TV.

Related links

• • Follow up to the UNPFII recommendations: Indigenous Peoples and the Media (2024)
  • Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: report on the 22nd session (17-28 April 2023)
    (E/2023/43-E/C.19/2023/7, paragraph 10)
  • Human rights and Indigenous Peoples – Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 11 October 2023 (A/HRC/54/12, paragraph 11)
  • Rights of Indigenous Peoples – Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2023 (A/RES/78/189, paragraph 41)
  • Multi-stakeholder consultative meeting “Creating an enabling environment for free and independent Indigenous community media” on 18 April 2023 on the margins of the 22nd session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York
  • Multi-stakeholder consultative meeting “The launch of a thematic study on Indigenous Peoples and the Media” was organized in partnership with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Public Media Alliance (PMA) in Geneva on 19 July 2023 on the margins of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP).

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