IPLP Delegation Advances Indigenous Rights at Highest Levels of UN
Faculty from the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy (IPLP) Program led several important events and trainings and participated in high-level consultations with United Nations officials at the most recent convening of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), which took place in New York City April 20 to May 1, 2026.
As part of the UNPFII, IPLP faculty hosted two official UN side events. International Courts Advisory Decisions on Climate and Indigenous Peoples featured Professor Seanna Howard, alongside a panel of Indigenous human rights advocates, ambassadors, and leaders, to discuss how recent developments in international law can strengthen accountability, protect collective rights, and elevate Indigenous leadership in the global response to the climate crisis.
Professor Elisa Marichi joined IPLP SJD alumnus Q”apaj Conde and a full panel of experts for Implementing Article 32 of UNDRIP, which focused on Indigenous co-management and co-stewardship of Indigenous lands and resources.
Professor Heather Whiteman Runs Him participated in the Enhanced Participation process, an ongoing United Nations General Assembly initiative aimed at enhancing and expanding Indigenous peoples' representation and engagement with the UN by providing them a distinct, elevated status to directly participate and vote in UN meetings. Professor Whiteman Runs Him was one of several experts invited to help inform this important UN initiative.
Our cadre of IPLP faculty were joined by several students; IPLP SJD students Love Ebegboni, David Blanco Gaitan, Kacaw Chiang Chuang, Nnabuife Ezema, and Elaine Porokwa; LLM student Joyce Petro Molel; and second-year JD student Loryn Horstmann. Student engagement at UNPFII aligns with IPLP’s emphasis on experiential learning, which helps prepare students for careers in Indigenous advocacy.
Students described the experience as both inspiring and eye-opening, giving them a broader perspective on how legal principles are applied beyond national borders. SJD student Love Ebegboni shared that:
“Participating in the UNPFII was an incredibly significant experience that deepened my comprehension of Indigenous advocacy and enhanced my academic and professional growth. I participated in both the main sessions and side events which really provided me the opportunity to connect with Indigenous leaders, scholars, and advocates globally. In particular, my attendance at side events co-hosted by IPLP allowed me to truly value the vital contributions of the International Human Rights Advocacy Clinic in promoting Indigenous rights and global justice.”
Among those in attendance at UNPFII were several prominent IPLP alumni. The UNPFII members include IPLP LLM alumni Brenda Gunn and Jennifer Tauli-Corpuz. The UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) also participated in the forum, represented by IPLP LLM alumna and EMRIP chair Anexa Alfred Cunningham.