UN Global Compact Co-Hosts Workshop on Corporate Leadership and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights

(New York, 23 April 2015) – Coinciding with the fourteenth session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (April 20 - May 1), the UN Global Compact, First Peoples Worldwide and Future 500 held a workshop on Corporate Leadership and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights: Building a Community of Practice, bringing together company practitioners and indigenous leaders to discuss challenges and existing good practice in business engagement with indigenous peoples. Held under Chatham House Rule, the event provided safe space for participants to speak frankly about challenges and offer lessons learned on key topics such as land rights and meaningful consultation and engagement.

With the deadline of a post-2015 development agenda looming on the horizon, 2015 is set to be an important year for the security and prosperity of the world’s indigenous peoples, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson affirmed in remarks delivered to the opening of this year’s Forum.

“The future well-being of the world’s indigenous peoples is a crucial part of this critical year,” the Deputy Secretary-General declared. “Now is the time for indigenous peoples to be at the forefront of a transformative agenda that leaves no one behind.”  He concluded by saying,  “I count on all of you – Member States, Indigenous Peoples and other partners – to make change happen and stand up for a life of dignity for all.”

As more companies find that their business operations are impacting the lives of indigenous peoples, the business case for respecting and supporting indigenous rights is increasingly clear.  Workshop participants discussed the risks of poor relationships with indigenous peoples (blockades, lawsuits, etc.), but also highlighted the long-term opportunities and benefits of meaningful engagement with indigenous peoples such as gaining social license to operate, understanding operating contexts including local and traditional knowledge, and developing shared value solutions that strengthen both financial and social performance and contribute to ethno-development.

• Read full remarks by UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson
• Download The Business Reference Guide to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• Download the Good Practice Note on Indigenous Peoples' Rights and the Role of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent
• Find additional resources on business and indigenous peoples’ rights here: /Issues/human_rights/indigenous_peoples_rights.html

Contact

Michelle Lau
Manager, Human Rights and Social Sustainability
UN Global Compact
lau@unglobalcompact.org