🌍 IWDA Represents Tanzania at the 47th UNESCO World Heritage Committee Session in Paris

Indigenous Women Development Affairs (IWDA) was deeply honored to participate in the prestigious 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee, held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, from 6th to 16th July 2025. This landmark opportunity was made possible through generous support from the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples (UNVFIP). As a women-led Indigenous organization advocating for land rights, cultural preservation, and environmental justice, IWDA took part in the proceedings as an active member of the Indigenous Peoples Forum on World Heritage (IIPFWH). Our presence at this global forum was not only symbolic but strategic—amplifying the voices and lived experiences of Indigenous and pastoralist communities in Tanzania, especially women who are often at the frontlines of environmental stewardship. 📣 Presenting Indigenous Realities from Tanzania During the session, IWDA had the privilege of joining the Indigenous Peoples Caucus to deliver a formal statement highlighting key concerns and realities facing Indigenous Peoples in Tanzania—particularly as they relate to the governance, conservation, and development of World Heritage sites. Our statement urged UNESCO State Parties and conservation bodies to prioritize Indigenous rights, traditional knowledge systems, and the socio-cultural heritage of communities living within or near protected landscapes. We specifically called attention to the marginalization and exclusion of Indigenous communities from decision-making in conservation planning and heritage site management, despite their critical role as knowledge holders and custodians of biodiversity. 🗣️ Speaking on the Global Stage: Women, Land, and Heritage IWDA’s Executive Director, Nailejileji Asia Tipap, joined a powerful panel discussion alongside Indigenous leaders from across the globe. In her remarks, she shared firsthand accounts of how Indigenous women in Tanzania—particularly Maasai pastoralist women—play a central role in protecting, managing, and restoring cultural and natural landscapes. Through traditional practices, communal land stewardship, and intergenerational knowledge sharing, Indigenous women actively contribute to the sustainable management of rangelands, forests, and sacred sites—all of which intersect with global priorities on climate action, heritage protection, and biodiversity conservation. ✊🏽 Centering Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) A key message from IWDA’s interventions was the need to institutionalize Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in all actions taken on Indigenous lands. FPIC is not only a legal obligation under international human rights frameworks, but a moral and ecological necessity to ensure that heritage conservation does not come at the expense of Indigenous peoples’ dignity, security, and livelihoods. We emphasized that lasting conservation outcomes can only be achieved through genuine collaboration, community empowerment, and the recognition of Indigenous governance systems. 🤝 Moving Forward This global platform allowed IWDA to build solidarity with Indigenous networks, connect with conservation stakeholders, and continue advocating for just, inclusive, and rights-based heritage governance. We return home energized to strengthen our grassroots efforts, elevate community voices, and co-create pathways for resilient and regenerative futures. We thank the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples, our Indigenous allies worldwide, and all those who continue to walk with us in this journey. 📷 Stay tuned for more updates, photos, and reflections from our experience at #47COM. For more, visit: www.iwdatanzania.org

EVENTS PARTICIPATION