19th session of the Expert Mechanism on the rights of Indigenous Peoples

The 19th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) takes place at Palais des Nations from 13 to 17 July 2026. EMRIP is a subsidiary body of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council (HRC), created through HRC resolution 6/36 adopted in 2007, meeting once a year to provide indigenous-based expertise to the Council.

About this Session

The 19th session of the Expert Mechanism on the rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) will convene at Palais des Nations, Assembly Hall from 13 to 17 July 2026. EMRIP is a subsidiary body of the Human Rights Council, created through HRC resolution 6/36 adopted in 2007, meeting once a year to provide Indigenous-based expertise to the Council

At this session, the Expert Mechanism will present the draft study examining the “Rights of Indigenous Peoples in conflict and post-conflict situation” (A/HRC/EMRIP/2026/2). The study highlights the disproportionate impact of conflict on Indigenous Peoples, including violence, displacement, environmental degradation and the erosion of cultural and governance systems, as well as pressure linked to climate change and resource competition.

The Expert Mechanism will also focus on enhancing the participation of Indigenous Peoples in the United Nations, following up on the intersessional meetings of the Human Rights Council on concrete ways to enhance the participation of Indigenous Peoples in the work of the Council, held in July and October 2024, as well as the resolution adopted in 2025 (A/HRC/RES/60/13). The Expert Mechanism is also expected to begin preparing for twenty years of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which will be commemorated in 2027.

→ Consult the EMRIP official page for information on the agenda and its side events, and find more information on the Docip resource page. Watch the livestream of the session meetings on UN Web TV.

EMRIP 19

Environment @ EMRIP19

Various side events and activities taking place on the sidelines of EMRIP19 that tackle the environment include:

UNDRIP20: Advancing Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights for the Next Twenty Years | 13 July 2026 | 15:00 – 16:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, Room XI | Geneva Office of Indigenous Peoples and Land is Life, Inc. | Interpretation E + S
Classifying Biocultural Rights Violations in Coastal Conflicts: A Framework for Indigenous Peoples’ Rights towards UNDRIP 20th anniversary | 14 July 2026 | 10:00 – 11:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, Room XI | Universidad de Santiago de Compostela and Rueda de Medicina A.C. | Interpretation S + E
WHO Framework for Respectful Engagement with Indigenous Peoples on Biodiversity, Health and Traditional Knowledge Systems: From Co-Creation to Implementation | 14 July 2026 | 11:00 – 12:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, Room VII | World Health Organization | Interpretation E + F, S, R
International Courts Advisory Opinions on Climate and Indigenous Peoples: From Legal Clarification to Practical Advocacy Pathways | 14 July 2026 | 12:00 – 13:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, Room VII | Land is Life, Inc., Vanuatu, Geneva Office of Indigenous Peoples, Saniri Alifuru, CIEL, University of Arizona | Interpretation E + S
Shaping Practical Tools to Support Rights-Based Conservation Consultation workshops | 14 & 15 July 2026 | Palais des Nations, Building H | UNEP (on invitation)
Thematic Meeting on Indigenous Peoples on Carbon Finance | 14 July 2026 | 13:00 – 15:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, VII | FAO | Interpretation E + S
Indigenous Peoples’ Sovereignty Amidst Conflict: Addressing Resource Militarization and Land Rights in Asia | 14 July 2026 | 14:00 – 15:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, Room V | Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact | No interpretation, E only
Indigenous and Human Rights and “Fast Track” approvals under the Building Canada Act | 14 July 2026 | 15:00 – 16:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, Room XI | Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. | Interpretation E + S, F
Let the Xavante Dream: Who pays for the Energy Transition and development in Brazil? Addressing conflicts where Corporations, State-supported infrastructure, and Indigenous rights collide | 15 July 2026 | 10:00 – 11:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, Room XI | Cultural Survival | Interpretation E + P
Water as a Peace Issue: Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Water in Conflict and Post-Conflict Settings | 15 July 2026 | 12:00 – 13:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, Room XI | Minority Rights Group | Interpretation E + F
Extractivismo, consulta y derechos de los pueblos indígenas: La comunidad Guaytamari frente al proyecto minero San Jorge | 15 July 2026 | 13:00 – 14:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, Room V | Guaytamari Community, Université libre de Bruxelles and DOCIP | Interpretation E + F, S
Preserving, Strengthening and Promoting Indigenous Peoples’ Food and Knowledge Systems: A Policy Discussion | 15 July 2026 | 13:00 – 14:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, VII | FAO | Interpretation E + S
Indigenous Rights, Traditional Medicines, and Emerging Psychedelic Policy: Implementing UNDRIP in the Context of Sacred Plant Medicines | 15 July 2026 | 13:00 – 14:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, Room XI | Indigenous Medicine Conservation Fund | No interpretation, E only
Indigenous Peoples in the Russian Federation: Extractivism, Cultural Survival and Challenges | 15 July 2026 | 15:00 – 16:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, Room V | Sakha Policy and Advocacy Center | Interpretation R + E
Illicit Exploitation of Natural Resources, Harm to Intangible Cultural Heritage and Crimes Against Humanity: Rethinking Violence through International (Criminal) Law | 15 July 2026 | 18:00 – 19:30 CEST | DOCIP Documentation Centre, Rte de Ferney 106
Realising the WIPO treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge | 16 July 2026 | 10:00 – 11:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, VII | Native American Rights Fund | Interpretation E + F, S, R
Energy Coloniality and Indigenous Territories: Green Extractivism, Self-Determination, and Solutions from Indigenous Peoples | 16 July 2026 | 10:00 – 11:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, Room XI | Leibniz University Hannover | Interpretation S + E
Defending Territories, Protecting Defenders: The role of Indigenous-Led Documentation and Data Sovereignty | 16 July 2026 | 14:00 – 15:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, Room XI | Indigenous Peoples Rights International | Interpretation E + F, S

Full list of side events

Indigenous Peoples and the Role of Geneva

As defined by the United Nations, Indigenous Peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Despite their cultural differences, indigenous peoples from around the world share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples.

Over the past years, environmental negotiations in Geneva and beyond have been referring more and more to Indigenous Peoples and their knowledge, which are at the frontline of the protection of our planet. Learn more about the role of Geneva in the promotion and protection and the rights of Indigenous Peoples in our dedicated update.

Indigenous Peoples and the Role of Geneva

Highlights

16 July 2026 | Realizing the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources & Associated Traditional Knowledge

The @GENetwork is at #EMRIP19 side event "Realizing the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources & Associated Traditional Knowledge", discussing its significance for Indigenous Peoples, inspiration for future frameworks, and pathways for implementation. pic.twitter.com/lfU0JMA4mU
— GENeva Environment Network (@GENetwork) July 16, 2026

Extractivism, Consultation & Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Guaytamari Community & San Jorge Mining Project | 15 July 2026

The @GENetwork is at #EMRIP19 side event, "Extractivism, Consultation & Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Guaytamari Community & San Jorge Mining Project", which will examine whether systematic attacks on Indigenous territories & heritage could amount to crimes against humanity. pic.twitter.com/ZU4q1OQTqs
— GENeva Environment Network (@GENetwork) July 15, 2026

Water as a Peace Issue | 15 July 2026

The @GENetwork is at the #EMRIP19 side event, "Water as a Peace Issue", which will examine how denial of Indigenous Peoples’ #RightToWater functions as an emerging driver of conflict & barrier to post-conflict recovery & peacebuilding. @MinorityRights

▶️ https://t.co/bXuV2sKJRl pic.twitter.com/accTUXspqf
— GENeva Environment Network (@GENetwork) July 15, 2026

Thematic Meeting on Indigenous Peoples on Carbon Finance | 14 July 2026

The @GENetwork is at the #EMRIP19 Thematic Meeting on Indigenous Peoples on Carbon Finance, highlighting the growing role of carbon finance and their implications on Indigenous Peoples, highlighting issues of participation, FPIC and self-determination. pic.twitter.com/kp04MTQVfb
— GENeva Environment Network (@GENetwork) July 14, 2026

International Courts Advisory Opinions on Climate and Indigenous Peoples: From Legal Clarification to Practical Advocacy Pathways | 14 July 2026

The @GENetwork is at the #EMRIP19 side event that will discuss the intersections among International Courts Advisory Opinions on Climate and Indigenous Peoples, moving from legal clarification to practical advocacy pathways.

▶️ https://t.co/DOKzal9r56 pic.twitter.com/iBwL2pVhzL
— GENeva Environment Network (@GENetwork) July 14, 2026

WHO Framework for Respectful Engagement with Indigenous Peoples on Biodiversity, Health and Traditional Knowledge Systems: From Co-Creation to Implementation | 14 July 2026

The @GENetwork is at the #EMRIP19 side event that will officially launch the @WHO Framework for Respectful Engagement with Indigenous Peoples on Biodiversity, Health and Traditional Knowledge Systems, as they discuss from co-creation to implementation.

📄 https://t.co/xcvQGv2OnC pic.twitter.com/A367uWwPn9
— GENeva Environment Network (@GENetwork) July 14, 2026

UNDRIP20: Advancing Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights for the Next Twenty Years | 13 July 2026

The @GENetwork is at the #EMRIP19 side event "UNDRIP20: Advancing Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights for the Next Twenty Years", gathering Indigenous leaders and experts to explore concrete pathways for advancing implementation over the next two decades.

▶️ https://t.co/WzutKuYTvj pic.twitter.com/Bny5F80AiU
— GENeva Environment Network (@GENetwork) July 13, 2026

Resources

19th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Call for Inputs: Indigenous Peoples’ Experiences with Carbon Finance | FAO | Deadline: 31 July 2026
Indigenous advocates push for rights protections around AI data centers | Mongabay | 16 July 2026
Continued dialogue with EMRIP supports Indigenous Peoples engagement under the Minamata Convention | Minamata Convention on Mercury | 15 July 2026
WHO Framework for Respectful Engagement with Indigenous Peoples on Biodiversity, Health and Traditional Knowledge Systems | WHO | 14 July 2026
Press release: Indigenous Peoples’ rights in conflict situations and Artificial Intelligence on the agenda at Expert Mechanism session | OHCHR | 9 July 2026
Resources from the Indigenous Peoples’ Center for Documentation, Research and Information (Docip)
Indigenous Peoples and the Role of Geneva