What the Global Biodiversity Framework says about Indigenous peoples rights and human rights

The document evaluates the 2022 Global Biodiversity Framework, highlighting positive inclusions such as the human rights-based approach and the protection of environmental human rights defenders in Target 22. It notes that while Target 3 recognizes Indigenous territories as conservation areas, there is a significant risk that expanding protected areas to 30% of the world could lead to human rights violations. The author identifies critical gaps, specifically the absence of human rights mentions in Target 15 (private sector) and Target 8 (climate change), and the lack of indicators for Targets 22 and 23. It concludes by advising civil society to use the GBF to push for national legislation on Indigenous-led nature areas and to demand full participation in decision-making.

• The Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) mandates a human rights-based approach to implementation, which includes respecting the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and ensuring the effective participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in decision-making.
• Target 22 is identified as a significant achievement for providing the full protection of environmental human rights defenders and ensuring gender-responsive representation and access to justice for rightsholders.
• Target 3, which aims to protect 30% of the world, presents a mixed outlook: while it recognizes Indigenous and traditional territories as conservation forms, the expansion of protected areas historically has led to human rights violations and the exclusion of IPLC territories.
• The GBF contains critical omissions regarding human rights in targets related to the private sector (Target 15) and climate change (Target 8), and lacks proper indicators and follow-up mechanisms for the key human rights targets (22 and 23).
• Target 23 specifically addresses gender equality, advocating for the empowerment of women and girls and their equal rights to land, natural resources, and leadership in biodiversity policy.

APA

Marien, N., Fandel, G., Prak, C., & Race, M. (2024). What the Global Biodiversity Framework says about Indigenous peoples rights and human rights. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GBF-Factsheet-Rights.pdf

Chicago

Marien, Nele, Ghislaine Fandel, Caroline Prak, and Madeleine Race. What the Global Biodiversity Framework says about Indigenous peoples rights and human rights. Friends of the Earth International, 2024. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GBF-Factsheet-Rights.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Marien |first1=Nele |last2=Fandel |first2=Ghislaine |last3=Prak |first3=Caroline |last4=Race |first4=Madeleine |title=What the Global Biodiversity Framework says about Indigenous peoples rights and human rights |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=March 2024 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GBF-Factsheet-Rights.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{marien2024what, author = {Marien, Nele and Fandel, Ghislaine and Prak, Caroline and Race, Madeleine}, title = {{What the Global Biodiversity Framework says about Indigenous peoples rights and human rights}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2024}, month = mar, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GBF-Factsheet-Rights.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }