UNESCO has broad mandates in the fields of education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and communication and information. Its policies, programmes and projects provide opportunities and have significant impacts (positive and negative) for indigenous peoples worldwide.

Today, policy frameworks and standards for human rights and development are evolving rapidly. In particular, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2007, while in 2008 the UN Development Group (UNDG) issued the UNDG Guidelines on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues. Indigenous peoples, governments and other actors legitimately demand that UN agencies take clear policy positions in relation to indigenous peoples’ rights and issues as they relate to their respective mandates.

UNESCO similarly embarked on a process to elaborate a house-wide policy on engaging with indigenous peoples. UNESCO’s work on developing a policy on engaging with indigenous peoples was launched during the 36th General Conference, at an event organized on 10 November 2011 within the framework of the 10th Anniversary of the UNESCO Declaration on Cultural Diversity and the Celebration of World Science Day 2011 for Peace and Development.  

• • Address by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the launch of the process toward the development of a policy on Indigenous Peoples
• Statement by James Anaya, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, during the launch event
• Interview with James Anaya, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• Launch of the process