Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and McCain Institute Assistant Director of Democracy Programs Berivan Orucoglu delivered remarks
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 16, 2024) – The McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) co-hosted the inaugural Global Summit on Indigenous Peacebuilding, a two-day event to engage with indigenous peoples globally and document indigenous approaches to peacebuilding, develop recommendations for how to include indigenous peacebuilders in peace processes and build a community of indigenous peacemakers worldwide.
“Indigenous communities, with their rich heritage and profound connection to their ancestral lands, are not just stakeholders but key architects of peacebuilding,” said McCain Institute Assistant Director of Democracy Programs Berivan Orucoglu, who oversees the Human Rights Defenders program. “As defenders of human rights, it is our duty to ensure that these voices are not just heard but are integral to the decision-making processes that shape our world. The McCain Institute’s Human Rights Defenders Program is committed to protecting and empowering those who stand up for their rights and the rights of their communities. Our work is based on the conviction that supporting human rights defenders, including indigenous peacebuilders, is foundational to achieving lasting peace and justice.”
A list of recommendations was published by the McCain Institute earlier this year outlining how institutions such as the U.S. Government, Congress, funding organizations, businesses, and technology companies can better support human rights defenders’ work.
More than 50 indigenous peacebuilders from over 30 nations joined the summit in person and online. Participants were immersed in panels, workshops, and indigenous practices such as reflection circles, healing practices, arbitration and mediation practices, and consensus-building processes to discuss the mitigation and prevention of global conflicts. This event was held at the United States Institute of Peace and was co-hosted alongside Humanity United, Partners Global Institute, and Peace Direct.
“We know that if we are to build a world that truly serves everyone, we must prioritize indigenous peoples and their values into our decision-making,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Debra Haaland. “Our work isn’t done yet, but together we’re moving mountains.”
The McCain Institute works across the political spectrum to advance individual human rights and freedom across the world by working with policymakers and other strategic partners. Learn more about the McCain Institute’s Human Rights Defenders program HERE.