Māori have a long history of international engagement and participation in multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations.
Aotearoa Indigenous Rights Trust produced this video as a DVD in 2008 to provide an introduction to Māori involvement at the United Nations. It’s pretty out of date now, but we’re still proud to have made it all those years ago!
Key forums Māori have regulated participated include:
- UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)
- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC)
- Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
Other UN processes and forums Māori have had a presence in:
- UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
- UN Climate Change Conference (UNCCC)
- UN Nagoya Protocol Meeting of Parties (NP-MOP)
- WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge (GRATK)
Other UN bodies with Indigenous Peoples committees and forums:
- International Fund for Agricultural Development – Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility
- UN Framework Convention on Climate Change – Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform
- Green Climate Fund – Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group
- Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities
Aotearoa Indigenous Rights Trust 