Last Thursday, Hani Moghani, a legal researcher from Iran, was scheduled to attend a special meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York City with more than ten indigenous people from all over the world.
But Mughani was more than 5,000 miles away in Iran, pending the arrival of her visa.
She said, “It is very stressful.”
Moghani is one of 16 basic members Subordinate The Permanent Forum of the United Nations on the issues of the indigenous populationOr UNPFII, the highest -character body within the United Nations system that deals directly with the concerns of the indigenous peoples, and was appointed to the position in 2023 by the United Nations. She did not receive any explanation for the reason for delaying her visa.
This will not be the first time – it is not easy to obtain a visa from Iran to the United States, and it has witnessed a similar delay two years ago – but it is among the number of people who hope to attend the UNPFII who faced the delay of the visa or denial this year, according to interviews with the original advocacy organizations and the presence of the forum. Their difficulties in entering the United States come at a time when the Trump administration seeks to tighten border controls and increase deportation, Including targeting pro -enlightened activists.
UNPFII is The largest contract for indigenous peoples in the world Where defenders will talk about issues ranging from climate disasters to the effects of critical mineral mining in indigenous societies. Mughani still holds the hope that she will receive her visa, and said that the permanent forum is an important place to confirm the rights of the indigenous people.
“This is a matter of justice: the right to full and effective participation of all indigenous peoples.”
The visa challenges are so clear this year that all the three United Nations offices representing the original peoples – the permanent forum, the mechanism of experts in the rights of indigenous peoples, and a special disk to the rights of the original peoples – issued Message this month Inviting the member states of the United Nations to “take all the necessary measures to facilitate the issuance of visas in a timely manner and ensure that is not approved access to all the original participants and mandate holders invited to attend United Nations meetings and forums.”
Their joint message says: “Unfortunately, recent experiences highlighted the challenges in issuing the visa and reaching the places of meetings, which endangered the significant participation of the original participants in monetary discussions.” “These barriers can have profound consequences to include the voices of indigenous people at the international level.”
Kevin Johnson, Dean of the University of California at Davis College of Law, said the delay is not surprising, given a slowdown in visa approvals since Trump took office in January.
“The Trump administration has turned into an immigration policy on its head,” he said. “Even if it is for the United Nations event, I don’t think this is a priority for the Trump administration.”
The permanent forum on original issues was created in 2002 after decades of pressure by indigenous defenders who felt that the United Nations system – with its focus on United Nations member states – failed to meet the needs of the original peoples. Since then, the representatives of the original nations have gathered annually at the United Nations headquarters in New York City to talk about the most urgent issues facing their societies, starting with Mercury poisoning to Oil pipelines Snection through their homelands.
At the end of the gathering for 10 days, members of the 16 experts write at the forum-who were appointed to the conditions of rotation-a report that summarizes concerns, then pass this information to United Nations agencies or members. For example, during the early years of the Covid-19s, the forum’s work helped to motivate UNICEF Issuing an invitation to work The sincerity of the original children to education after the epidemic of the closure of schools on a large scale. The forum is a valuable opportunity for the indigenous peoples not only to raise awareness about their fears between governments, but also increasing the response of state leaders.
She said: “It is not an ideal system, but this is the only system that we have available to us when our problems are often unable to address and solve them in our countries.”
Since UN member states also send specific representatives to the forum, the gathering provides an opportunity for indigenous people to reach high -level government officials who may not be available or respond to their fears.
Every year the forum deals with a different topic – last year Focus on the original youth This year, he focuses on what the United Nations member states are and do not do it to protect the rights of indigenous peoples. The attendees hope to make suggestions on how to do better.
Although the topic is not specific to the environment, it is expected that the forum will raise a discussion about the challenges facing the original peoples as more countries seek to dispense Cobaltand Lithium And other minerals that are necessary to transfer energy dependence off fossil fuel, many of which are located in the original areas. Indeed, the United States was accused of ignoring the rights of indigenous peoples by allowing them New Lithium mine in Nevada On the Holy Land to the multiple tribal nations in the region.
This year’s forum is expected to weigh the recommendations of many written reports in preparation for gathering, two of which deal with critical mineral mining effects in indigenous societies. Another claims to be composed by McGlade, that state governments should create laws that reflect the rights of indigenous peoples under international law.
Moghani and McGlade have also worked on a separate study on how to harm indigenous peoples in an inconsistent way and how they should be combined into peacebuilding efforts.
But defenders say it is difficult for the indigenous peoples to take these talks or call their societies when many cannot attend. Although there are no numbers for the number of potential attendees who were rejected or delayed, experts say many chose not to try.
“I have received many emails and calls from people, and representatives of the indigenous population, who feel real anxious and try to make a decision on whether they should even come to the United States at this time because of the perceived hostility to people from other countries,” said Roberto Boriro, a consultant to the Indian International Treaty Council, who leads annual training to prepare those present.
Gabriel Chen, a professor of law at the University of California at Davis, said that since January, the Trump administration’s immigration policies have sought to make the United States feel unworthy for non -citizens who are considered unwanted.
“If people choose themselves so that they do not come, then politics works,” he said.
Nati Garcia, an employee of the Culture Group of the Non -profit group, said that she knows four people whose visas requests were rejected to attend the permanent forum: two of Ecuador, who previously received visas to attend, and two from Uganda.
She said, “We are definitely interested in the situation.” This motivates us to be more active in being there in expressing our fears.
Boriro said this year’s visa concerned prompted some to indicate that future forums are in other countries or even online.
He said: “It is not only the United States – it is generally become more difficult for the original people anywhere.” Recently last year, some indigenous defenders said that they had been admired by keeping the forum because of A possible violent reaction from state governments. This is disappointing for Borreo, who spent many years in calling for the United Nations and says that the annual gathering of the forum in New York City is a unique and important space for the indigenous peoples.
“This is what helps us build the movement, to really call for respecting our rights as original people,” said Boriro. “It is important for us to continue doing this.”
