Dubai - In a moment of profound significance, the COP28 Indigenous Peoples pavilion bore witness to a silence that spoke volumes during the side event "Outcomes of the UN Global Indigenous Youth Forum: Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Climate Resilience and Sustainability." Stepping onto the stage, Mai Thin Yumon, co-chair of the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus (GIYC), delivered not just a message, but seven powerful messages encapsulated in the Rome Declaration on Safeguarding Seven Generations in times of Food, Social, and Ecological Crisis. Indigenous Youth shared insights into their food and knowledge systems, cultures, territories, and lifestyles, presenting their challenges and articulating clear requests, recommendations, and proposals. The world is urged to listen, as the time for their voices has undeniably arrived.

Indigenous Youth and the UNGIYF

The release of the 2023 Rome Declaration is the culmination of the UN Global Indigenous Youth Forum (UNGIYF), an impactful event that unfolded at the FAO Headquarters in October. Originating from several years of collaboration between FAO and the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus (GIYC), the UNGIYF emerged from a recommendation put forth to FAO by UNDESA through the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples Issues (UNPFII). Initiated to address the alarming rates of suicide and self-harm among Indigenous Youth, the forum evolved into a vibrant space for dialogue. The path of collaboration has been long. As put by Ivan Ingram, advisor fo the GIYC, "we are the beneficiaries of the work of our elders and leaders, who paved the way for us to have a voice in these fora". Talking about the joint efforts of Indigenous Youth, FAO and other UN Agencies, he underlined that "when we work together, collectively, we can achieve great things".

From the 16th to the 20th of October 2023, 186 Indigenous Youth representing 98 distinct Indigenous Peoples’ groups from 54 countries across seven socio-cultural regions convened in Rome. At the centre of the UNGIYF lied the questions and the answers about the future of Indigenous Peoples food and knowledge systems. The dialogues initiated during those days extended over a month, guided by the GIYC, culminating in the comprehensive Rome Declaration. This document is an Indigenous-supported Declaration, and necessarily not a Global declaration. Five out of seven delegations from the different socio-cultural regions of the world endorsed the Rome Declaration, while two regional delegations have requested for time to review and discuss on the document further.

The Rome Declaration: Seven Key Messages

Central to the Declaration is the symbolic number seven, deeply rooted in the cosmovisions of several Indigenous Peoples. "For Indigenous Peoples, we always think about the future seven generations when we act in the present", said Mai Thin. And seven are also the messages delivered by Indigenous Youth to the world.

• “We are the next generation”: Indigenous Youth, as the next generation, are committed to preserving traditional knowledge, emphasizing the need for supportive regulatory and policy frameworks.
• “We must have land, water, and biodiversity security”: Acknowledging the fundamental role of lands and waters in Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems, the Declaration stresses the essentiality of recognition and land tenure security.
• “We must be free from cultural genocide”: Urging an end to the introduction of harmful chemicals and wanton extractivism that disrupt Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems, causing irreparable damage and displacement.
• “We must prevent green colonialism”: Emphasizing that sustainable practices must respect Indigenous Peoples' rights, the Declaration calls for a halt to practices that harm Indigenous communities under the guise of sustainability.
• “We must be free from violence”: Rejecting all forms of violence—be it physical, cultural, or territorial—the Declaration underscores the immediate harm and impediment to realizing inherent rights caused by such acts.
• “We must safeguard our food systems, our health, and mental health”: Highlighting the adverse effects of ultra-processed foods, the Declaration champions traditional food and knowledge systems as the pathway to holistic nourishment, spiritual well-being, and mental health.
• “We must not be subject to biopiracy; there must be measures to protect Indigenous biocultural intellectual property”: Stating that Indigenous knowledge benefits society at large, the Declaration calls for robust safeguards to ensure equitable participation and prevent unjust exploitation.

Towards a Better Future: Policy Recommendations and Urgent Action

The seven key messages translate into actionable policy recommendations directed at UN Agencies, Member States, and Indigenous Peoples' Organizations. The Rome Declaration serves as a call to action and a starting point for tangible steps towards a brighter future. As the Declaration asserts, "We cannot be the seeds of change and transformation of food systems if the world does not listen to the messages carried by the voices of Indigenous Youth. We cannot achieve peace when there is hunger and food insecurity." The time for concrete and timely actions aligned with Indigenous Youth recommendations is now.

Read and familiarize with the Declaration!

Watch here the recording of the side event!