The Indigenous Peoples Platform of the Minamata Convention on Mercury aims to bring together Indigenous voices to promote the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples in the work of the Minamata Convention to put an end to mercury pollution.
COP‑6, in decision MC‑6/15, building on work initiated under COP‑5 (MC-5/1) encouraged strengthened and effective engagement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the work of the Convention, particularly those from regions disproportionately impacted by mercury pollution.
During the 2026–2027 intersessional period, work under this decision includes the following activity directed to Parties and stakeholder:
Voluntary contributions to the Special Trust Fund Parties, other governments and stakeholders in a position to do so are invited to provide financial or in‑kind support to enable the effective participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in meetings and activities under the Convention. Offers of support may be sent to the Secretariat at the email address provided below. Contributors are encouraged to do so as soon as possible, taking into account the timing of relevant meetings, and preferably by the end of June 2027.
Intersessional work and Submissions for COP-6
Indigenous peoples and local communities
Broadening participation
A. Support Initiatives
With generous support from the Government of Finland and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and in partnership with the Children and Waste Youth Platform, the Secretariat covered for Indigenous representatives from four socio-cultural regions: Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
B. Collaborations
Collaborative efforts to support Indigenous Peoples' engagement in mercury-related issues have been strengthened through close collaboration with organizations such as FENAMAD (Federación Nativa del Río Madre de Dios y Afluentes) and FCDS (Fundación para la Conservación y el Desarrollo Sostenible). Additional collaboration partners include the Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform, the Global Environment Facility Secretariat and GEF funded Inclusive Conservation Initiative, and the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Voluntary Fund for the Indigenous Peoples. These collaborations have enabled joint activities, capacity-building, and knowledge exchange, particularly around the impacts of mercury on health and the environment and have helped amplify Indigenous perspectives in global environmental discussions.
C. Awareness and Engagement Activities
2025
Training Session for Indigenous Fellows Geneva, 7 July 2025 A targeted training session was delivered by the Secretariat to 40 Indigenous fellows as part of the Indigenous Fellowship Programme, focusing on mercury impacts and UN engagement mechanisms.
Informal Dialogue on Engagement Mechanisms Geneva, 17 July 2025 Indigenous experts participated in a dialogue hosted by the Secretariat to discuss effective mechanisms for engagement in multilateral environmental agreements.
Side Event on Mercury Impact Survey Results Geneva, 17 July 2025 A side event was organized by the Secretariat at the Palais des Nations to present findings from a survey on the needs and priorities of Indigenous Peoples and local communities regarding mercury exposure.
First Exchange of Amazonian Indigenous Peoples on Illegal Gold Mining and Mercury Contamination Online / Leticia, Colombia, 10–12 July 2025 Indigenous representatives from Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru gathered for the first time to address the silent crisis of mercury pollution from illegal artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). The event was organized by the Foundation for Conservation and Sustainable Development (FCDS), the Amazon Alliance for the Reduction of Gold Mining Impacts (AAMI), and the Observatory of Illegal Mining and Linked Activities in Key Biodiversity Areas (OMI), with support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The Secretariat participated by delivering opening remarks and answered participants’ questions, and shared insights on the Convention’s work related to mercury and Indigenous engagement.
2024
DESA Expert Group Meeting on Indigenous Rights and Mineral Extraction Online, 2–4 December 2024 Participation of the Secretariat in a UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs led meeting focused on Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact, in the context of critical mineral extraction.
Aliança Munduruku, Kayapo, and Yanomami Meeting Geneva, 15–19 July 2024 Engagement of the Secretariat during the 17th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, with representatives from Amazonian Indigenous groups.
Needs and priorities of Indigenous Peoples and local communities
In response to decision MC-5/7 paragraph 7, the Secretariat developed draft provisional guide on the effective engagement and participation of Indigenous Peoples and of local communities in the development, implementation and review of ASGM national action plans. The document was developed through the generous financial support of Australia and Norway. It is based on a desk review of similar engagement protocols and its aim is to reflect the existing best practices for engagement of Indigenous Peoples and for engagement of local communities. The provisional guide is available here.
A report summarizing the results of a survey on the needs and priorities of Indigenous Peoples and local communities regarding the impacts of mercury on health, livelihoods, culture, and traditional knowledge was prepared in line with paragraph 4 of decision MC-5/1 and is available here.
Decision MC-5/1
Noting with concern that Indigenous Peoples, as well as local communities, are particularly vulnerable to mercury exposure and are among the first to face the serious health and environmental effects resulting from mercury pollution owing to their close relationship with the environment and its resources, and welcoming the role of Indigenous Peoples, as well as local communities, and particularly the engagement of women and girls, who have faced the effects of mercury with resilience, in achieving the objective of the Minamata Convention and the targets and goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the COP noted the importance of broadening participation of Indigenous Peoples, as well as local communities, in the implementation of projects and programmes undertaken under the Minamata Convention and encouraged parties to support, as appropriate, participation of Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, as well as local communities and other relevant stakeholders, in meetings of the Conference of the Parties, and in other related processes.
