The twenty-second session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) will take place at United Nations Headquarters, New York, from 17-28 April 2023. The priority theme of the session is: “Indigenous Peoples, human health, planetary and territorial health and climate change: a rights-based approach”.
WHO will be co-hosting two side events at the Forum.
Indigenous women’s maternal health
18 April 2023, 14:00 – 15:30 CET
Ending preventable maternal mortality remains an unfinished agenda and one of the world's most critical challenges. Across the globe, Indigenous women experience significantly worse maternal health outcomes than the majority populations. Indigenous women have limited access to adequate healthcare services, reproductive health services, and face racial and gender-based discrimination in health systems. The objectives of this side event are to highlight some of these challenges indigenous women face; present country experience in addressing existing barriers; and present a WHO toolkit for integrating and assessing legal barriers to maternal health.
Speakers include:
- Charles Ngwen, Professor of Law in the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, Australia
- Shelley Nowlan, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Queensland and Deputy Rural Health Commissioner, Australia
- Melina Connors, Aboriginal Midwife, Hospital and Health Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisations, Australia
- Leona McGrath, Senior Aboriginal Midwifery officer in New South Wales, Australia
- Adrian Diaz, WHO Country Office of Ecuador
- Narcisa Mashienta, Amazon midwife and coordinator of the IKIAMA NUKURI Program of the Pachamama Foundation, Ecuador
The event will be moderated by Allisyn Moral and Francesca Palestra, Maternal Health, WHO Headquarters. Simultaneous interpretation in English and Spanish will be available.
Join the webinar
Password: WOMEN@23
Indigenous Peoples' mental health
20 April 2023, 14:00 – 15:30 CET
Indigenous Peoples often experience higher rates of mental health issues, such as depression and trauma, due to historical and ongoing discrimination, and loss of cultural identity. These experiences can lead to intergenerational trauma, which can affect mental health across multiple generations. Many mental health issues such as depression, substance abuse and suicide have been identified as connected to the historical colonization and dispossession of indigenous peoples, which has resulted in the fragmentation of indigenous social, cultural, economic and political institutions (UNDESA, Indigenous Peoples' Health). This side event explores possible interventions to address the root causes of Indigenous Peoples’ mental health problems, including through the full recognition and exercise of Indigenous Peoples’ collective rights and self-determination.
Speakers include:
- Dr Evangelene Daniela-Wong, Clinical Psychologist within Community Health Services, Te Marae Ora, Cook Islands Ministry of Health
- Aimée DuBois, PAHO national Consultant
- Enrique Cachiguango, medical doctor and traditional healer from Otavalo people, Ecuador
- Petter Stoor, University of Umea, Sweden, and coordinator of the Lávvuo Research and education for Sámi Health
- Amina H Salaton, Kenya Subcounty Cordinator and Immunization focal person
- Geoffrey Roth, Vice-Chair for the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
The event will be chaired by Dévora Kestel, Director of WHO's Department of Mental Health and Substance Use. Simultaneous interpretation in English and Spanish will be available.