QCPD’s take on Indigenous Rights, Migration and Participation: Why Inclusion Must Move Beyond Recognition
15 July 2026
As global discussions on climate change, migration and sustainable development continue to evolve, increasing attention is being given to the specific challenges facing Indigenous Peoples. Nearly two decades after the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), significant disparities remain in access to education, healthcare, housing, employment and social protection. While international standards have advanced considerably, implementation continues to lag behind political commitments.
Against this backdrop, the Qatar Centre for Peace and Democracy (QCPD), together with AFRIW – Action for Human Rights and World Issues and the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR), convened a side event during the nineteenth session of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) taking place in Geneva. Moderated by Matthias Boehning, Secretary General of ISHR, the discussion brought together representatives from the United Nations, academia, civil society and Indigenous communities to explore how international institutions can better translate human rights principles into meaningful participation and practical outcomes.
Structural Challenges Beyond Recognition
A recurring theme was the relationship between structural discrimination, migration governance and socio-economic rights, particularly under Article 21 of UNDRIP.
Speakers highlighted how Indigenous communities continue to experience systemic barriers that extend beyond individual instances of discrimination. Legal, political and institutional structures often limit equal access to education, employment, housing and social protection, reinforcing inequalities despite existing international commitments.
Professor Alexandra Xanthaki, United Nations Special Rapporteur in the field of Cultural Rights, stressed in a recorded intervention that greater attention must be paid to structural discrimination, the meaningful implementation of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and stronger accountability for international organisations and transnational corporations whose activities affect Indigenous communities.
Similarly, Dr. Asang Wankhede of King’s College London examined how systemic discrimination continues to shape unequal socio-economic outcomes, arguing that lasting progress requires addressing the institutional foundations of exclusion rather than only its individual manifestations.
Climate Change and Migration
The discussion also explored one of the less frequently examined dimensions of Indigenous rights: the growing impact of climate-induced displacement.
As environmental degradation increasingly affects ancestral lands, many Indigenous communities face difficult choices between preserving traditional livelihoods and seeking safety elsewhere. Yet migration systems often fail to recognise the distinct legal, cultural and social circumstances of Indigenous Peoples.
Saravanan Ganesan, Founder of AFRIW, described climate change, forced displacement and exclusion from international labour mobility as “three interconnected crises” that increasingly reinforce one another. Participants noted that despite being disproportionately affected by environmental change, Indigenous Peoples often remain insufficiently represented within international migration governance.
Centreing Indigenous Voices
Among the most powerful contributions was that of Beatrice Pompé, Chagossian leader and co-founder of Indigenous Chagossian People, who reflected on the long-term consequences of displacement following the establishment of the military base on Diego Garcia.
Drawing on the lived experience of the Chagossian community, she emphasised that meaningful development and decolonisation cannot be achieved without the direct participation of Indigenous Peoples in decisions affecting their future.
Subsequent interventions from Indigenous representatives from Botswana, Brazil and the Chagossian community demonstrated that, despite differing regional contexts, many communities continue to confront similar challenges, including cultural loss, exclusion from decision-making processes and limited access to justice.
Participation as a Foundation for Inclusive Development
The discussion reinforced a broader principle that aligns closely with QCPD’s work: sustainable peace and inclusive development depend not only on recognising rights, but on ensuring meaningful participation.
For QCPD, strengthening inclusive governance requires creating opportunities for affected communities to contribute directly to policymaking, promoting dialogue between governments, civil society and rights holders, and advancing development approaches grounded in dignity, equality and mutual respect.
As migration, climate change and socio-economic development become increasingly interconnected global challenges, ensuring that Indigenous Peoples participate as decision-makers rather than passive beneficiaries will remain essential. The event concluded with practical recommendations, including stronger implementation of Article 21 of UNDRIP, improved migration pathways for Indigenous Peoples, greater participation in international decision-making processes, and continued cooperation between UN mechanisms, Member States and Indigenous organisations.