8/20/2019 Indigenous Youth and the Post-2015 Development Agenda

1/2

Our Perspective

Indigenous youth and the post-2015development agenda28 Apr 2015 by Laurence lein! Programme "pecialist #or Indigenous Participation! $%&P LatinAmerica and the 'aribbean

A''O(&I%) *O +I)$(," +(O ,'LA'! *.,(, A(, O(, *.A% 800 I%&I),%O$" P,OPL," I% LA*I% A,(I'A! /I*. A*O*AL POP$LA*IO% O+ AO$* 5 ILLIO% P.O*O3 $%&P 'OLOIA

“Children and youth are the future of humanity” 

(Álvaro Pop, Member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and Youth Focal

Point)

Imagine that instead of ecluding marginali!ed groups, "e include them in the ne" international post#

$%&' development agenda No", imagine the future development agenda built on the enormous

potential of indigenous peoples "ith their ancestral no"ledge No" combine this no"ledge "ith the

innovative and entrepreneurial spirit and the mobili!ing and transforming capacit* of indigenous *outh

+ouldnt *ou listen to these voices-

+e have decided that, *es indeed, "e "ould listen to them and have provided them "ith the

platform Juventud Con Voz  4oice o# the 6outh7 It "ill serve as a forum for participator* dialogue in

"hich the proposals and ideas of indigenous *outh can be heard in order to have an impact,

individuall* or collectivel*, on the post#$%&' development agenda and to contribute effectivel* to"ards

strengthening their organi!ations

8/20/2019 Indigenous Youth and the Post-2015 Development Agenda

2/2

Fifteen *ears ago, &./ heads of state committed to eradicate etreme povert* and multiple

deprivations that threaten the "ell#being of individuals, "ith the adoption of the Millennium

0evelopment 1oals (M01s) 0espite the enormous progress to"ards achieving this ambitious

pro2ect, the indignit* of povert* is still violating the human rights of a great man* people ever* da*

3hus, the inclusion and participation of ecluded and marginali!ed people in the formulation of future

4ustainable 0evelopment 1oals (401s) is a dut* and obligation for the international communit*

3he indigenous population "orld"ide is estimated at 56% million people (0748) 8ccording to the

7conomic 9ommission for :atin 8merica and the 9aribbean (79:89), ;in :atin 8merica ' million people 3heir vast

socio#demographic, territorial and political diversit* ranges from peoples living in voluntar* isolation to

those present in large urban settlements?

3he M01s did not reflect the specific needs and concerns of indigenous peoples in terms of self#

determination over their territories, natural resources, cultures, identities and languages 8 fe" months

from the agreed deadline for achieving the M01s, indigenous people, both adults and *outh, are

taing advantage of a historic opportunit* to influence the future post#$%&' development agenda

 8ccordingl*, "ithin the frame"or of the Fourteenth 4ession of the United Nations Permanent Forum

on Indigenous Issues, held in Ne" Yor from $% 8pril to & Ma* $%&', UN0P is bringing together

indigenous leaders to a roundtable on intergenerational dialogue @ie"s and proposals are being

shared on the priorities and the participation of indigenous *outh in the post#$%&' development

agenda 9hallenges are being highlighted and strategies created for strengthening their voices in

consultations on a development agenda "hose innovative process focuses on the inclusion of

ever*one

Alder indigenous leaders such as Álvaro Pop, MarBa 7ugenia 9hoCue, M*rna 9unningham#Dain and

MarBa 3eresa Eapeta "ill discuss the participation of indigenous *outh in electoral processes and their 

role in the preservation and transmission of traditional no"ledge, as "ell as the leadership of

indigenous "omen

Indigenous *outh 0alB 8ngel, 8ntonia Genito, Hasmine 4nche! and 8polinaria 4antana Arope!a,

some of "hom are members of Juventud Con Voz   "ill focus on the results of the IV Young

 Americas Forum, 2ustice and redress, education and health

 8n indigenous proverb sums up the essence of sustainabilit*, the aim of "hich is to not 2eopardi!e

future generationsJ“We do not just inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our

chidren!"   Indigenous *outh are "illing to learn this ancient "isdom and appl* it to the ne" realities of

a more globali!ed "orld 3he* "ant to listen and to be heard

http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/blog/2015/4/28/Indigenous-youth-

and-the-post-2015-Deelopment-!genda/

http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/blog/2015/4/28/Indigenous-youth-and-the-post-2015-Development-Agenda/http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/blog/2015/4/28/Indigenous-youth-and-the-post-2015-Development-Agenda/http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/blog/2015/4/28/Indigenous-youth-and-the-post-2015-Development-Agenda/http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/blog/2015/4/28/Indigenous-youth-and-the-post-2015-Development-Agenda/