Delegates to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues – one of the largest annual gatherings at UN headquarters in New York City – may decide to move future meetings outside the United States because of the current political climate.
Fears about treatment of international visitors and difficulty or delays in gaining visas to travel into the U.S. are already reducing attendance at this year’s meeting, which is set to start Monday and run through May 2.
Now members are considering moving the event altogether.
“We're concerned about the ability of Indigenous people from around the world to actually make it in the country and not be harassed,” Geoffrey Roth, Standing Rock Sioux, one of 16 members of the Permanent Forum, told ICT Friday.
“Considering the safety of Indigenous peoples and their ability to actually make it to meetings and participate in a meaningful way,” he said, “I think it's time to move, and that's my personal opinion.”
Roth has heard from delegates and representatives that it’s not a safe time to travel to the United States, and they’re scared to do it. On top of that, visas are being denied or delayed, impacting those who can participate — especially those from countries in Africa or from Russia.
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