A strong call to financiers to respect Indigenous rights & biodiversity
On May 8 the Indigenous Advisory Group (IAG) to the Banks & Biodiversity Initiative published the first of its kind Position Statement on Financiers’ Responsibilities regarding Indigenous Peoples Rights and Biodiversity. The Position Statement was signed by 75 Indigenous people and organizations and allied civil society organizations from 34 countries and working globally.
An abridged version of the Position Statement was read into the official record of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) on April 25, 2025, in New York City.
The Statement highlights that many banks and financiers continue to fall short in respecting, recognizing, and supporting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and their land, leading to harmful consequences for biodiversity and climate resilience. Through the Statement, signatories urge financial institutions to engage meaningfully and act responsibly in aligning their investments with Indigenous rights and ecological sustainability.
Indigenous Peoples are vital stewards of the world’s remaining biodiversity hotspots. Studies show that biodiversity is preserved as well or better on Indigenous-managed lands compared to government-protected areas. These lands experience slower rates of ecological decline, yet they increasingly face threats from harmful development projects. At the same time, banks and financiers play a key role in determining the sectors that receive funding, impacting ecosystems and the Indigenous communities that protect them. However, many, especially in the private sector, lack strong policies and implementation to safeguard Indigenous rights and biodiversity.
To address these critical issues, the 75 signatories to the Position Statement call upon financiers to:
Adopt and implement robust policies that uphold Indigenous Peoples’ rights
Conduct thorough and inclusive due diligence
Ensure Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) is obtained from affected Indigenous Peoples
I am honored to support the IAG and signatories to the statement in delivering it to hundreds of representatives of public and private financial institutions globally and in seizing opportunities to reinforce the call for financiers to uphold their responsibilities toward Indigenous Peoples' rights and biodiversity.
This advocacy is more important than ever amidst growing global attention to the responsibilities and impacts of financiers on Indigenous communities.