Empowering Indigenous Voices in Health: EMRIP Side Event Tackles Health Inequality

At Room XXVI, Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) will be hosting a side event focused on the health of Indigenous Peoples. The event is being hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to Resolution 76.16 adopted by the 76th World Health Assembly in May 2023.

The WHO Director-General was tasked with developing a Global Plan of Action for the Health of Indigenous Peoples in consultation with various stakeholders including countries, Indigenous Peoples, UN agencies, civil society, academia, and others. As part of this initiative, WHO has started working on a global literature review on the health of Indigenous Peoples. The aim of the side event is to present the initial findings of this review and allow Indigenous Peoples to provide input and contribute to the ongoing research.

The analysis includes studying key health outcomes in which Indigenous Peoples face inequities, exploring the social determinants of health for Indigenous Peoples, and evaluating the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of health services for Indigenous Peoples with a focus on cultural appropriateness. Keynote speaker Valmaine Toki, a member of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will be joined by speakers Pauliina (Lina) Nykänen-Rettaroli, Rodrigo Paillalef and Mariam Wallet Aboubakrine who are all involved in the development of this situation analysis related to health outcomes related to indigenous people’s rights.

Prior to the event at 12:45 p.m., participants will enjoy a light lunch which provides an opportunity for networking and informal discussions before diving into open discussion sessions aimed at fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing in support of developing a Global Plan of Action for better health outcomes for indigenous people’s rights .