On July 11–12, the preparatory meeting of Indigenous peoples ahead of the 18th session of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) was held at the BIRD Playground Center in Vernier, Geneva. Representatives of Indigenous peoples from different regions of the world participated in the meeting.

The first day of the two-day program began with an orientation and training session organized under the Project Access initiative for delegates participating for the first time. Participants were introduced to the history of EMRIP, its mandate, the stages of its development, and the practical opportunities for using the mechanism. The session was followed by a meeting of the Indigenous Caucus.

On July 12, the program continued with another meeting of the Indigenous Caucus, followed by a meeting with EMRIP experts. In the afternoon, a coordination meeting was held during which delegates representing the seven socio-cultural regions were elected to meet with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The day concluded with another session of the Indigenous Caucus.

During the preparatory meeting, participants discussed the main agenda items of the 18th EMRIP session, including the rights of Indigenous peoples in conflict and post-conflict situations, the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, activities carried out in different countries, the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, the impact of artificial intelligence on Indigenous peoples, and the expansion of Indigenous peoples’ participation in the work of the United Nations.

The agenda also included discussions on the future work of the mechanism, the assessment of the implementation of previous recommendations, proposals to be submitted to the Human Rights Council, the adoption of thematic studies and reports, as well as preparations for the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, both to be marked in 2027.

Simultaneous interpretation was also provided throughout the meeting, enabling delegates from different continents to participate fully in the discussions.

The French version of the agenda is available at:
https://www.docip.org/fileadmin/documents/Autochtones/Draft_Agenda_IP_Caucus_EMRIP_2026_FR.pdf