Healing Justice and Supporting Indigenous Human Rights Defenders

The 20th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) International Funders for Indigenous Peoples and The Indigenous Peoples Rights International invites the public to the side event: Healing Justice and Supporting Indigenous Human Rights Defenders | 27th April, 12:30- 2:00pm Eastern time.

Presenters Bio

Joan Carling

An Indigenous activist from the Cordillera with more than 20 years of working on indigenous issues from the grassroots to the international level. Her expertise includes human rights, sustainable development, the environment, climate change, and the application of Free, Prior and Informed Consent.

She was the General Secretary of the Asia Indigenous People Pact (AIPP) from September 2008 to December 2016. She was appointed as an indigenous expert of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2014-2016) by the United Nations Economic and Social Council. She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by UN Environment in September 2018.

She is the Director of Indigenous Peoples Rights International and the co-convenor of the Indigenous Peoples’ Major Group for Sustainable Development-IPMG.

Leonor Zalabata Torres

An indigenous activist from Arhuaco Organization in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, del Cesar, Colombia. She is the Human Rights Commissioner of the Tayrona Indigenous Confederation and representative of the National Commission of the Indigenous Peoples of Colombia.

Leonor has worked to improve the political representation of indigenous peoples. She was part of the delegation of the National Working Group for Indigenous Peoples Rights of the Constituent Assembly of 1991, and the development of the first programs and plans in defense of the autonomy of the traditional and organizational authorities of Pueblo Arhuaco in Colombia.

She has received several awards and international recognition for her work, including the Anna Lindh Prize for campaigning for the rights of indigenous people in the South American nation. 

Aminatu Gambo

 Aminatu Gambo is from the Mbororo-Fulani Indigenous Peoples of Cameroon. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in law at the University of Yaoundé II in Cameroon. Aminatu has been actively working in the promotion and protection of the right of the indigenous people since 2011. She currently Works with the International Indigenous Women’s Forum (FIMI) as the program coordinator of Political participation and Advocacy. She is also an Alumni of the OHCHR Indigenous Fellowship Program in Geneva.

AGENDA