WHO hosted a side event highlighting the significance of Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge and leadership into global health initiatives at the 17th Session of the Expert Mechanism in the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) on 10 July 2024. The event, titled “Advancing the development of situation analysis on the health of Indigenous Peoples” was organized to present preliminary findings of a global literature review on the health of Indigenous Peoples and provide an opportunity for Indigenous Peoples to input into ongoing research.
The Indigenous researchers who led the team presented their research from all WHO regions regarding the health outcomes; access, availability, acceptability of health services; underlying determinants of health; and health-related human rights violations experienced by Indigenous Peoples. The preliminary findings from the review have shown a notable concentration of existing scientific literature in South America compared to other regions. The research continues with analysis of the captured data and the inclusion of grey literature to complement the data found in under-represented regions.
Participants highlighted the under-representation of Indigenous Peoples in academia, as well as the importance of using Indigenous methodologies when conducting research about Indigenous Peoples, and ensuring that Indigenous Peoples lead and participate in the process. Research about Indigenous Peoples often lacks Indigenous knowledge – for example, Indigenous oral knowledge, while readily available, is not often captured by conventional academic research. Tapping into this knowledge through building trust with Indigenous knowledge holders was proposed as a valuable way to address the limitation of research bias.
Finalizing the situation analysis is just a first step that will feed into the development of the Global Plan of Action for the health of Indigenous Peoples (GPA). The GPA was mandated in resolution WHA76.16 during last year’s World Health Assembly, and will provide a framework for coordinated global efforts towards realizing the health-related rights of Indigenous Peoples.
WHO has prioritized a human rights-based approach in developing the GPA, which is guided by a human rights framework, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). A participant of the event emphasized that the important role of a human rights-based approach extends beyond the UNDRIP, encompassing both international and regional human rights framework to guide this work.
This work represents a unique opportunity to foster a transformative shift from the conventional concept of health and well-being, and to integrate Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives on health. WHO will partner with Indigenous Peoples, from whom there is much to learn for a holistic view of health, drawing on lessons learned from past initiatives.
Integral to the Indigenous conceptualization of health is the focus on promotion of wellness and prevention of illness, rather than simply treating the illness. The knowledge, experience and voices of Indigenous Peoples are essential in shaping this work. The successful turnout and enthusiasm from the participants at the event reaffirmed the demand for upholding and fulfilling health-related human rights of Indigenous Peoples. As voiced by the keynote speaker Valmaine Toki, newly appointed chair of EMRIP, ‘’If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything.’’
WHO is committed to ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ meaningful participation throughout the process of developing the GPA. The valuable inputs provided by the participants during this side event will contribute significantly to shaping the GPA. There will be more opportunities to engage and integrate Indigenous approaches and methodologies to this work. As a next step, WHO will convene a virtual meeting later this year to share and validate the final results of the situation analysis.