Country workshop regarding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and indigenous peoples in India was organised by AIPP, Zo Indigenous Forum (ZIF) and Adivasi Womens Network (AWN) on 22-23 August 2017 in Kolkata, India. The workshop brought together representatives of indigenous peoples across the country to discuss about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including its national implementation plan and indigenous peoples in the country.
The objectives of the Country workshop on the Sustainable Development Goals and Indigenous Peoples in India is to introduce the issues and processes related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to the indigenous organizations, network and representatives in the country. The workshop will not focus only on awareness raising but also to provide indigenous representatives the opportunity to consolidate their positions, raise their issues and agreed on advocacy strategies with respect to the engagement in SDGs processes especially in the process of Voluntary National Review of India.
In addition, the country workshop aims to create space for indigenous peoples to have a dialogue with the Indian government as well as to develop a common position through a submission and advocacy strategy from indigenous peoples’ network together with other supporting CSOs on the situation and issues of the IPs in the country, progress of implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and in particular on the actions and measures taken by the Indian government to advance the implementation of the Sustainable Development Agenda.
The participants to learn about the SDGs and its relationship with indigenous peoples, the position of IPs in the 2030 Agenda and how IPs can participate and engage in the 2030 Agenda related processes. Focus of the training was to promote and encourage AIPP members to boost the advocacy and lobby work related to the SDGs at state and regional levels.
They have recommended that the SDG process should involve consultation with all section of the society including Indigenous Peoples to ensure full participation, gender assessments and proper evaluation of conditions on the ground for development projects to be conducted. Data disaggregation and citizen science should be used to supplement comprehensive data, and full compliance be given to FPIC, EIAs, safeguards, protection of rights and to international standards, such as the UNDRIP and the Convention on Biological Diversity.