“Increasingly, our frontlines were not growing young, and these struggles are intergenerational. Therefore, we need to make sure the spontaneity of these struggles, that we have a channeling, a reproduction of competent, well trained, knowledgeable, exposed, next generation leaders who will keep this fire burning to ensure these rights are respected and promoted.”
Stanley Kimaren Riamit, Executive Director of Indigenous Livelihoods Enhancement Partners (ILEPA) in Narok, Kenya, motivated young indigenous leaders and advocates who are participating in the ongoing virtual training on policy advocacy in the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) that started on January 19, 2021.
After the training, participants are expected to be equipped with a clear understanding of their rights and skills to undertake sustained advocacy with their governments and in key global processes, as well as lead in initiatives and actions that help strengthen and develop their communities and organizations.
Participants in the said training come from different regions of the world. They are nominated and selected through the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB), ELATIA (Indigenous Peoples’ Global Partnership on Climate Change, Forests and Sustainable Development), Nia Tero, and the Asian Indigenous Women’s Network (AIWN).
The team of trainers, composed of Joji Cariño, Viviana Figueroa, Jennifer Corpuz, and Aslak Holmberg, are renowned indigenous experts who have been engaging in the UN CBD for years. They are being assisted by young indigenous leaders who also have experiences in engaging the UN CBD processes.
The training is jointly being implemented by the ELATIA Indigenous Peoples Training Institute and ILEPA with support from Nia Tero and Bread for the World.