WHO Delays Global Indigenous Health Plan, Citing Need for Deeper Consultation
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has postponed the final consideration of its Global Plan of Action to advance the health of indigenous peoples until May 2027, prioritizing more inclusive and meaningful consultations with affected communities. The decision, reached on Thursday by the WHO Executive Board, reflects growing concerns that a rushed plan risks excluding the very populations it aims to serve.
Prioritizing Legitimacy Over Speed
The draft strategy seeks to address significant health inequities faced by indigenous communities worldwide, with a focus on improving access to healthcare services, recognizing traditional knowledge, and building climate resilience. However, a consensus emerged among member states that a more deliberate approach is necessary to ensure the plan’s legitimacy and effectiveness.
“Strengthening consultation mechanisms that are tailored to cultural and linguistic realities remains vital to guarantee effective participation,” stated the delegate for the Central African Republic, speaking on behalf of the 47 Member States of the African Region. The delay, extending the original 2026 target by a full year, is intended to secure “free, prior and informed consent” from indigenous communities – a process that can be challenging given geographical barriers and varying levels of engagement.
Bridging the Digital Divide
Concerns over equitable participation were particularly prominent, with several delegations highlighting the potential for digital exclusion. The Brazilian delegation cautioned that relying solely on online consultations could silence Indigenous voices due to limited access to technology. Delegates supporting the delay argued that a plan developed with insufficient engagement would ultimately be ineffective.
Brazil echoed the African Group’s position, emphasizing the exclusionary tendencies inherent in modern diplomatic processes. “The limitations of consultations conducted exclusively online” could undermine the plan’s goals, the Brazilian delegation noted, arguing that digital divides must be addressed to truly empower Indigenous communities.
Non-state actors also weighed in, with Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) welcoming the proposal but urging the WHO to use the additional time to foster greater “social participation and meaningful leadership.” According to an MSF representative, “Failure in protecting health holistically can result in severe health consequences,” and the plan must respect “traditional medicines and knowledge encouraging dialogue with traditional healers.”
Defining ‘Indigenous’: A Contentious Issue
While the push for inclusion drove the delay, the discussions also revealed fundamental disagreements over the very definition of “indigenous peoples.” Indonesia, in a significant intervention, challenged the applicability of the term within its national context.
The Indonesian delegate explained that as a multicultural nation with over 1,300 ethnic groups – a diverse mix of native populations alongside Chinese, Indian, and Arab-Indonesian minorities – the concept of “indigenous peoples” does not align with its demographic reality. Indonesia voted in favor of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in 2007, but with a formal caveat limiting its application within its borders.
“There is no one fixed definition of indigenous people and that concept is not applicable in our national context,” the Indonesian delegate to the Executive Board stated. This stance carries significant political weight, particularly given escalating conflicts over land claims involving local Indonesian communities and the palm oil industry. Similar health challenges are faced by communities in Africa and the Amazon region due to the impacts of oil and gas exploration, including deforestation, gas flaring, and water contamination.
The debate underscores the complexities facing the WHO Secretariat as it attempts to craft a global strategy that protects vulnerable communities while navigating powerful economic and political interests. “.
