Looking Back, Looking Forward

REGISTRATION IS OPEN UNTIL 14:00 CET, WEDNESDAY, 27th NOV; THE EVENT BEGINS AT 16:30 AND DOORS OPEN AT 16:00 CET

Over the past 30 years, indigenous peoples, forest peoples, and their allies have achieved significant milestones in shaping EU laws and policies to protect human rights, tackle climate change, and safeguard the environment. However, the journey has been fraught with challenges.

Despite the advancements brought by the European Green Deal and landmark legislation such as the Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), substantial barriers remain. Political opposition, industry pushbacks, and insufficient recognition of indigenous and forest peoples' rights continue to hinder meaningful change.

Join us for a thought-provoking 90-minute panel discussion at the Press Club Europe, hosted by Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) and partners, as we explore the achievements, challenges, and next steps needed to better address corporate violations of human rights and the environment using EU laws and policy.

Event Highlights

Voices from the Ground: Hear first-hand from representatives of indigenous peoples and afrodescendants from Indonesia and Colombia on the impacts of EU policies and their aspirations for the future.
Lessons from the EU Legislative Process: Reflect on the successes and limitations of key policies like FLEGT, EUTR, VPAs, and the newly adopted EUDR and CSDDD, with insights from European NGOs and civil servants.
The Way Forward: Discuss practical steps to strengthen the recognition of indigenous peoples and forest peoples' rights in future EU policies and ensure the effective implementation of existing laws.

We will also launch two FPP publications at this event - one including different stakeholders' perspectives on the progress for the rights of indigenous and forest peoples in EU law, policy and practice; and the other one being a guide for indigenous and forest peoples and their allies on using the new EU rules to support their rights.

Don't miss the opportunity to stay after the event and network over drinks from 18:00 to 19:00 local time in Belgium.

Join this event to reflect on the path we've travelled to integrate indigenous peoples’ and forest peoples’ rights in EU law, policy and practice, and how we collaborate to reduce the impacts of EU consumption on people and nature.

For any questions or if you'd like more information, please contact us at [email protected] .

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Press Club Brussels Europe, 95 Rue Froissart, Bruxelles, Belgium