Materials related to the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, including statements, submissions, interventions, reports, and other relevant resources.
Access to Justice for Indigenous Peoples in Protected Areas: Why grievance and redress mechanisms should be part of the COP-17 decisions
Elisa Marchi | Indigenous Rights and Protected Areas Initiative, Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program, University of Arizona | October 2026
As Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity expand protected areas toward the 30 per cent target of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Indigenous Peoples must be able to raise grievances and obtain remedy when conservation affects their lands, territories and resources.
This advocacy brief, prepared for the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-17, Yerevan, 19–30 October 2026), shows that access to justice under Target 22 includes access to effective grievance and redress mechanisms. It sets out what international law requires, including restitution for lands taken without free, prior and informed consent, and the standards a mechanism must meet to deliver remedy. It also maps every reference to grievance, redress and access to justice in the COP-17 draft decisions, and proposes text that Parties can use in the negotiations on protected areas, the financial mechanism and the human rights-based approach.
The brief is intended for State delegations, Indigenous Peoples' organizations and other actors taking part in the negotiations.
Document
The Updated Programme of Work on Protected Areas Must Deliver Effective and Equitable Governance Through a Human Rights-Based Approach
Human Rights and Biodiversity Working Group
humanrightsbiodiversity@gmail.com
As Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity review the Programme of Work on Protected Areas, the updated framework must support the implementation of Target 3 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework while ensuring that conservation is effective, equitable, and consistent with internationally recognized human rights.
This policy brief, prepared for consideration under agenda item 17(c) at the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-17, Yerevan, October 2026), sets out four key recommendations for strengthening the Programme of Work on Protected Areas. It calls for flexibility in the concept of conserved areas, a clear human rights-based approach, the integration of equitable governance into conservation monitoring, and stronger accountability, access to justice, and effective remedy.
The brief emphasizes the need to recognize the rights and governance systems of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, ensure their full and effective participation in conservation decision-making, protect environmental human rights defenders, and establish accessible and gender-responsive grievance mechanisms. It also calls for dedicated funding directly accessible to Indigenous Peoples and local communities and for remedies, including restitution where possible, when protected areas have been established without their free, prior and informed consent.
The brief is intended to inform Parties and other stakeholders participating in COP-17 negotiations on the updated Programme of Work on Protected Areas.
CBD Women’s Caucus Policy Recommendations for CBD COP 17
CBD Women’s Caucus | October 2026
The seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 17), held in Yerevan, Armenia, provides a critical opportunity to assess progress in implementing the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and strengthen action to achieve its goals and targets by 2030.
This policy document presents the CBD Women’s Caucus’ priority messages and targeted textual recommendations for draft decisions under consideration at COP 17. It calls on Parties to ensure that implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework is gender-responsive and human-rights-based, recognizing women and girls, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and youth as rights-holders and leaders of biodiversity action.
The recommendations address key negotiation items, including resource mobilization and the financial mechanism, the global review and monitoring framework, the Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j), Indigenous and traditional territories, digital sequence information, capacity-building, knowledge management, and the implementation of the Convention’s programmes of work. Across these areas, the document emphasizes equitable access to finance and resources, full and effective participation in decision-making, recognition and protection of diverse knowledge systems, and stronger accountability for implementation.
The policy recommendations are intended to support Parties and other stakeholders in advancing gender equality, human rights, and inclusive biodiversity governance through the COP 17 negotiations.
Centering Human Rights in the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: Key Asks for CBD COP 17
Human Rights and Biodiversity Working Group | October 2026
This policy brief presents the Human Rights and Biodiversity Working Group’s key recommendations for the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 17), held in Yerevan, Armenia. It calls on Parties to fully operationalize the human rights-based approach enshrined in Section C of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and ensure that biodiversity action through 2030 is inclusive, equitable, and grounded in human rights.
The brief highlights key priorities for the COP 17 negotiations, including equitable governance of protected areas, recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ distinct rights, protection of environmental human rights defenders, equitable access to biodiversity finance, and stronger integration of human rights into biodiversity monitoring, assessment, and implementation. It also addresses marine and coastal biodiversity, policy coherence across biodiversity, climate and sustainable development, and the recognition of Indigenous and local knowledge systems.
The recommendations emphasize the need for meaningful participation in decision-making, free, prior and informed consent, effective safeguards and grievance redress mechanisms, and direct access to adequate financial resources for rights-holders. They urge Parties to retain substantive human rights language in COP 17 decisions, strengthen accountability, and recognize the contributions of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women, youth, and other rights-holders to biodiversity conservation.
The brief is intended to support Parties and observers in advancing a human rights-based approach to the implementation of the KMGBF and ensuring that biodiversity policies protect rights, promote equity, and deliver lasting outcomes for both people and nature.
Indigenous Peoples Law & Policy Program co-sponsored side events at COP-17
The Indigenous Peoples Law & Policy Program co-hosted a side event with IUCN and partners on Grievance and Redress Mechanisms: Exploring Considerations for KM-GBF Implementation. Building on our joint work with IUCN, Professor Elisa Marchi presented preliminary recommendations for non-State actors on ensuring effective remedy in protected and conserved areas, and other panellists shared perspectives from Indigenous Peoples, civil society, conservation organization and funders. Read more here