Global Indigenous Youth Caucus

Global Indigenous Youth Caucus
Name	Global Indigenous Youth Caucus
Abbreviation	GIYC
Formation	2014
Type	Indigenous youth organization
Headquarters	Rotating/virtual
Region served	Global
Membership	Indigenous youth delegates
Leader title	Coordinators

Global Indigenous Youth Caucus is an international coalition of Indigenous young leaders that convenes to advance Indigenous rights at multilateral forums such as the United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The caucus brings together delegates from regions including the Arctic Council area, Amazon Rainforest nations, the Saami Parliament, and Pacific Island communities to coordinate advocacy with bodies like the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the World Health Organization. It engages with Indigenous political institutions such as the Assembly of First Nations, National Congress of American Indians, Māori Council, and international treaty processes including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Overview

The caucus functions as a youth-led platform linking representatives from continental groups including African Union member states' Indigenous constituencies, Organization of American States Indigenous delegations, and participants from the Asian Development Bank region. It intersects with advocacy by organizations like Survival International, Cultural Survival, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch while coordinating with Indigenous NGOs such as Young Indigenous Peoples Forum and regional networks like the Pacific Islands Forum. The caucus draws inspiration from movements represented by figures and institutions like Chief Raoni Metuktire, Elouise Cobell, Patricia Gualinga, Noel Pearson, and entities such as the Native American Rights Fund and Landmark Aboriginal Corporation.

History and Formation

Origins trace to youth participation at sessions of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the UN Climate Change Conference where young delegates allied with representatives from Navajo Nation, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Consejo de Todas las Tierras, Confederacy of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, Bolivian Aymara organizations, and Sámi Council. Early convenings involved collaborations with activists tied to events like the World Indigenous Peoples' Conference and initiatives at the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development. Founders included delegates with links to institutions such as Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Métis National Council, Federation of Aboriginal Organizations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission alumni, and student groups from Harvard University, University of British Columbia, University of Auckland, Australian National University, and Universidad Nacional de La Plata.

Membership and Structure

Membership comprises youth delegates selected through regional bodies like the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Indigenous mechanisms, African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights processes, and national Indigenous parliaments such as the Parliament of the Republic of Vanuatu's Indigenous caucus. Governance includes rotating coordinators, working groups, and a secretariat model akin to that used by the International Indigenous Youth Council and Global Indigenous Youth Network; it liaises with legal advisers from firms and institutions like American Indian Law Alliance, International Labour Organization experts, and scholars from University of Oxford, Yale University, University of Cape Town, McGill University, and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Activities and Initiatives

The caucus organizes side events at forums such as the UNFCCC Conference of Parties, UN Commission on the Status of Women, and the UN Human Rights Council, hosting panels with representatives from Greenpeace, 350.org, Friends of the Earth International, and World Wildlife Fund. Initiatives include capacity-building workshops drawing on curricula from Indigenous Peoples' Centre for Documentation, leadership exchanges with International Labour Organization specialists, and cultural programs showcasing artists like Yothu Yindi collaborators, storytellers linked to Tlingit traditions, and filmmakers whose work has screened at the Sundance Film Festival. The caucus runs campaigns addressing land rights involving partners such as Amazon Watch, Forest Peoples Programme, Rainforest Foundation UK, and legal strategies informed by precedents like the Inter-American Court of Human Rights rulings and submissions to the International Criminal Court.

Advocacy and Policy Impact

Advocacy has contributed to youth positions being cited in outcomes of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples implementation dialogues, submissions to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and interventions at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund consultations. Policy impacts include influencing language in documents from the Convention on Biological Diversity, recommendations to the Global Environment Facility, and briefings delivered to delegations such as those from Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Brazil, Mexico, and Philippines. The caucus has supported legal campaigns associated with cases at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and provided youth testimony relevant to treaty processes like the Backing Berta Cáceres solidarity efforts.

Partnerships and Networks

Strategic partners include Indigenous rights NGOs like Cultural Survival, environmental NGOs such as Sierra Club and WWF International, legal networks including EarthRights International, and academic collaborators from Columbia University, Stanford University, National University of Singapore, University of Nairobi, and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. It participates in coalitions with the World Indigenous Network, Youth Climate Network, Global Indigenous Youth Network, and has engaged with governmental delegations from entities like the Department of Canadian Heritage, Te Puni Kōkiri, Ministry of Indigenous Peoples of Bolivia, and intergovernmental bodies including the United Nations Development Programme.

Challenges and Criticisms

Critiques address representation and resource disparities raised by regional groups such as the Adivasi networks, First Nations Summit, Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages, and advocacy collectives including Idle No More and Land Back activists. Operational challenges include funding reliance on foundations like Ford Foundation and Open Society Foundations, access barriers at multilateral meetings hosted by states like Germany, Switzerland, and United States Department of State, and tensions over engagement strategies with corporations such as Glencore, Vale, and ExxonMobil. Debates also reflect differing priorities voiced by youth from Sápmi, Yanonami, Guarani, Maori, Haida, Cherokee Nation, and Fijian communities concerning legal approaches pursued through institutions like the Inter-American Court of Human Rights versus direct-action campaigns linked to Extinction Rebellion-style tactics.

Category:Indigenous organisations