The Commission notes that the IDWIP pursues a twofold objective: on one hand, raising awareness of States on the realities, challenges and rights of Indigenous Peoples, while promoting the recognition and realisation of those rights; and celebrating their cultural diversity, traditional knowledge and vital contribution to sustainable development, while encouraging States, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and all relevant stakeholders to strengthen measures aimed at ensuring their full, effective and inclusive participation in public life, in accordance with international human rights standards.

The Commission warmly welcomes the theme selected by the UN for the 2026 celebration of the IDWIP, namely Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being; this theme calls upon every Government to honour these indigenous midwives by recognising their role as knowledge keepers and care providers, to reaffirm the enduring value of indigenous knowledge systems in safeguarding life and to promote culturally appropriate approaches to the well-being of future generations.

The Commission recalls the major jurisprudential contribution of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACtHPR) in its landmark judgment of 26 May 2017 (African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights v. Republic of Kenya, Application 006/2012), in which it recognised that “the Ogiek are an indigenous population (community) forming part of the Kenyan people, possessing a distinct status and deserving of special protection on account of their vulnerability”, while reaffirming that “the Respondent State had the obligation to consult the Ogiek and obtain their free, prior and informed consent” before adopting any measure liable to affect their lands or resources.

The Commission commends the sustained efforts of public authorities and their partners aimed at strengthening the promotion and protection of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, preserving their cultural heritage, and promoting their traditional knowledge and practices, in line with the requirements of the theme to mark the 32nd celebration of the IDWIP, notably through the organisation of the first South-West Cultural Festival (SWECUF) by the Ministry of Arts and Culture (MINAC), in collaboration with the traditional authorities of the South-West Region, held in Buea from 27 February to 1 March 2026, under the theme; Our Cultural Heritage, Our Identity, with a view to promoting social cohesion, celebrating cultural diversity and ensuring the transmission of cultural heritage to younger generations

The Commission recalls the actions it has undertaken to promote and protect the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, notably through the handling of complaints, awareness-raising activities and strengthened institutional cooperation, and highlights its participation in the General Assembly of the Alliance of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities for Conservation in Africa (AICA), under the leadership of its Chairperson, also current Chairperson of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI), held from 26 to 31 May 2026 at the Mont Fébé Hotel in Yaoundé; on that occasion, the Chairperson of the CHRC reaffirmed that “the protection of Indigenous Peoples is not limited to the preservation of their land heritage but extends to all the rights enshrined in the 2007 United Nations Statement, including the right to political participation”

The Commission emphasises that corruption seriously undermines the effective enjoyment of the rights of indigenous peoples by diverting public resources intended for their economic and social development, their access to quality health, education and social protection services, as well as the preservation of their cultural heritage; that this scourge also facilitates the illegal exploitation of the lands, forests and natural resources on which these communities depend, often disregarding their free, prior and informed consent and that within the context of the theme of this 32nd IDWIP, it appears that corruption weakens the institutional support that indigenous midwives are entitled to expect by depriving primary healthcare facilities of essential medicines, appropriate infrastructure and support programmes aimed at promoting and recognising traditional medicine.

The Commission warmly welcomes the positive feedback from public authorities regarding its 2025 Statement to mark the 31st IDWIP. It particularly commends the initiative taken by the BUNEC, which, through correspondence No. 256/L/BUNEC/DG/CT1/CAJC/CEA2 of 15 April 2026, informed the Commission that its recommendations had been incorporated into its planning instruments. In this regard, the 2025–2029 Strategic Plan for the Modernisation of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) System, together with the BUNEC 2026 Annual Performance Plan (APP), now include strategic actions aimed at improving the civil registration of indigenous peoples, thereby directly addressing the concerns raised by the Commission

The Commission reiterates the recommendations made in its statement to mark the 31st IDWIP on 9 August 2025, in particular that the Ministry of Social Affairs (MINAS), the Ministry of Public Health (MINSANTÉ), the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family (MINPROFF) and the Ministry of Territorial Administration (MINAT), should ensure the effective participation of the legitimate representatives of the indigenous communities, including that of midwives, in all policies, strategies and programmes relating to health, cultural heritage, the environment and local development.

La Commission recommande spécifiquement the Ministry of Arts and Culture (MINAC), in collaboration with MINAS and MINSANTE, should design and implement, with the free, prior and informed consent of the communities concerned, integrated programmes for the documentation, safeguarding, intergenerational transmission and promotion of the traditional knowledge of indigenous midwives, in close partnership with traditional authorities, women’s organisations and the communities concerned, to preserve this intangible cultural heritage and promote its contribution to community health, in accordance with public health standards and human rights.

The Commission specifically recommends civil society organisations should strengthen community awareness-raising and education activities on the rights of Indigenous women and girls, while highlighting the essential role of Indigenous midwives in preserving life, promoting maternal and child health, and supporting the well-being of communities.

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