United States Mission to the United Nations
Office of Press and Public Diplomacy
For Immediate Release
April 14, 2021
Interior Secretary Haaland and Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield to Lead Historic U.S. Delegation to the 20th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
The United States Mission to the United Nations today announced the U.S. delegation to the 20th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, to be held April 19-30 in a hybrid format at United Nations Headquarters in New York and virtually. The theme of this year’s session is “Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: The role of indigenous peoples in implementing Sustainable Development Goal 16.”
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, the first Native American U.S. cabinet secretary, and Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Representative to the United Nations, will serve as Heads of Delegation. Secretary Haaland will be the highest-ranking Native American U.S. Government official in history to address the Forum and will deliver a keynote address during the opening session which begins at 3 p.m. on Monday, April 19. The event will be live-streamed at webtv.UN.org.
The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to strengthening U.S. government relations with U.S. tribal leaders and advancing the well-being of indigenous peoples across the globe. The converging crises the world faces today related to health, the economy, inequality, and climate change all disproportionately impact indigenous peoples. The U.S. delegation looks forward to engaging with Member States, UN agencies, tribal and indigenous leaders, and civil society at the Forum on ways to overcome those crises, strengthen our institutions, and build more just, peaceful, and inclusive societies.
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