A/HRC/41/22 23. Those were not just empty words. UNDP was working hard to better understand why people were left behind so as to develop effective responses. UNDP had identified five key factors that resulted in people being left behind: (a) discrimination based on their ascribed or assumed identity, including being indigenous; (b) geography; (c) governance; (d) socioeconomic status; and (e) exposure and/or vulnerability to shocks such as climate change, displacement and natural hazards. 3 She emphasized the need for indigenous peoples to participate and to be included in the development and the implementation of the strategies and projects in the context of the 2030 Agenda. 24. Indigenous issues had been a focus for UNDP, which greatly valued the contributions of indigenous peoples to humanity’s cultural diversity, heritage and climate change solutions. Likewise, UNDP had developed country activities to enhance the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals for indigenous peoples, for example by supporting countries in the preparation of their voluntary national reviews at the high-level political forum; supporting the establishment of national mechanisms for consultation with indigenous peoples; and promoting national protocols for free, prior and informed consent for forest investments. B. Interactive discussion 25. Representatives of several Member States, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations took the floor to make comments or ask questions. There was general agreement on the importance of enhancing the active participation of indigenous peoples in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and of ensuring that no one was left behind. The need for a culturally sensitive approach was emphasized with regard to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Stakeholders also agreed that indigenous peoples should participate in and benefit from the 2030 Agenda. Some of the challenges raised were: ensuring indigenous peoples’ participation in the implementation processes at all levels and steps of the 2030 Agenda; enhancing indigenous women’s participation in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda; using the Sustainable Development Goals as an opportunity to protect and fulfil indigenous peoples’ rights; addressing discrimination, extreme poverty and inequalities, which disproportionately affected indigenous peoples; implementing, promoting and respecting the norm of free, prior and informed consent, including through local and national protocols; and promoting stronger collaboration among indigenous peoples’ organizations and Governments. 26. Likewise, some delegations emphasized that, while international developments were important, national dialogue and action should be prioritized. There was a need for greater political will to ensure the recognition of indigenous peoples and the fulfilment of their rights. In addition, the importance of addressing compound discrimination was emphasized, noting the potentially multiplicative effects of intersecting vulnerabilities such as gender, sexual orientation and gender identity, and indigenous status. Some delegations also pointed out the links and interplay between the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, other human rights instruments and mechanisms, and the Sustainable Development Goals. 27. Several delegations and stakeholders highlighted the importance of linguistic diversity. They welcomed the proclamation by the General Assembly of 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages. This was a step towards raising awareness of the crucial role languages play in indigenous people’s daily lives. There were ongoing initiatives to address the challenges of revitalizing and promoting indigenous languages in various countries; nevertheless, there was still a lack of bilingual education and of dissemination of indigenous knowledge. 28. Indigenous representatives, delegations, human rights institutions and nongovernmental organizations highlighted ongoing initiatives to address the situation of 3 “What does it mean to leave no one behind? A UNDP discussion paper and framework for implementation”, July 2018. Available at www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/povertyreduction/what-does-it-mean-to-leave-no-one-behind-.html. 5