Indigenous Peoples Roundtable - WUF10 (8-13 February…

Cities are places where people come together to live, work and seek opportunities. However, the loss of traditional lands and housing in the face of rapid urbanization has contributed to an increase in the migration of indigenous people to urban areas where they experience major disparities in wages, employment and education opportunities, access to housing and basic services, and criminal convictions. Indigenous people and other vulnerable groups are the most susceptible to homelessness as they are not fully integrated into the city fabric. Beyond these challenges, indigenous people bring with them greater diversity and opportunities for broader cultural and intergenerational engagement and have the potential to contribute significantly to economic growth in cities. All stakeholders must collaborate to advocate for national policies that are intersectional and address the specific needs of indigenous people. The New Urban Agenda recognizes these challenges and addresses all forms of discrimination. To be resilient, sustainable, inclusive and prosperous cities must ensure access to rights for all and leverage diversity for social capital and economic development, with culture and innovation working in tandem to support the development of cities. Objectives: This session will stimulate dialogue on access to housing and basic services and the integration of indigenous people into cities. It will identify criteria for the successful integration of indigenous peoples into cities and ways to transform the narrative around indigenous people and their rights in the urban context.   The session will seek to identify and incorporate innovative and dynamic voices for inclusion and better quality of life for indigenous peoples among them NGOs, start-ups and the private sector.   Guiding Questions: What are the key factors contributing to the successful inclusion and integration of indigenous peoples? What are the obstacles impeding the inclusion and integration of indigenous people in cities? What is the role of local governments and other institutions in the inclusion and integration of indigenous persons? How can the private sector make the most of technology in order to bring services closer to indigenous populations? What are the opportunities for the intersection of culture and innovation to address the challenges of providing indigenous peoples with adequate housing?