UNDP's work with Civil Society

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Empowering Indigenous Peoples

"UNDP is committed to creating space at the local, regional, national and international level to ensure that local and indigenous voices are heard, that they inform policy making, and that they are acted upon" according to UNDPs Associate Administrator, Ad Melkert, in his address to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on May 22, 2009.

With its access to Governments – its principal partners – UNDP has an important role to play in facilitating dialogue with and advancing the concerns of indigenous peoples, who are often the most marginalized populations in society.

In 2001, UNDP adopted UNDP and Indigenous Peoples: A Policy of Engagement (2001), UNDP believes that ensuring the engagement of indigenous peoples and their organizations is critical in preventing and resolving conflict, enhancing democratic governance, reducing poverty and sustainably managing the environment.

UNDP’s engagement with indigenous peoples has received fresh impetus with the historic adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on 13 September 2007. The United Nations Development Group (UNDG) has developed the UNDG Guidelines on Indigenous Peoples' Issues (Spanish) with the purpose to assist the UN system to mainstream and integrate indigenous peoples' issues in processes and activities.