UN engagement

Bringing Indigenous perspectives into international processes

AIIN engages with United Nations mechanisms and other international institutions to strengthen Indigenous participation in discussions and decisions affecting Indigenous Peoples.

Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC

On 29 July 2025, the United Nations Economic and Social Council granted Asian Indigenous International Network Special Consultative Status under ECOSOC Decision 2025/336.

Special Consultative Status provides eligible non-governmental organizations with defined opportunities to engage with the work of ECOSOC and relevant United Nations processes. AIIN remains an independent organization; consultative status does not make AIIN a United Nations agency or imply United Nations endorsement of all AIIN activities.

Read ECOSOC Decision 2025/336

International mechanisms

Engagement across international processes

UNPFII

AIIN’s international engagement includes participation in the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and related regional dialogue.

Food, knowledge and sustainable development

AIIN engages with FAO, IFAD and the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems, rights and participation.

Environment, water and human rights

Documented work also connects with UN Water, UNEP, UNEA, EMRIP and wider sustainable-development processes.

Selected engagements

A record of international contributions

2017–2019
Phoolman Chaudhary — UNPFII member
United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues — 2017–2019
Phoolman Chaudhary served as a member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues during the 2017–2019 term, including service as a Vice-Chair of the Forum’s Bureau in 2017 and 2019.
2020–2022
Phoolman Chaudhary — UNPFII member
United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues — 2020–2022
Phoolman Chaudhary served as a member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues during the 2020–2022 term, including service as a Vice-Chair of the Forum’s Bureau in 2022.
19–20 January 2021
Phoolman Chaudhary — UNPFII member
UNPFII Regional Dialogue on Asia
Phoolman Chaudhary co-led the UNPFII Regional Dialogue on Asia and was identified by the United Nations as Executive President of the Asian Indigenous International Network.
7 October 2022
Phoolman Chaudhary — speaker
Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems — Nurturing Mother Earth and Preserving Biodiversity
The FAO Indigenous Peoples Unit and FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific organized this hybrid event in Bangkok. Phoolman Chaudhary delivered opening remarks and was identified as a UNPFII member and Asia representative in the Coalition on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems.
18 October 2022
Phoolman Chaudhary — UNPFII member
Launch of the Coalition on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems
The global Coalition on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems was launched at FAO Headquarters in Rome. FAO identified Phoolman Chaudhary as an Indigenous Peoples’ focal point for Asia.
December 2022
Phoolman Chaudhary — speaker
High-Level Launch of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages
United Nations programme records indicate that Phoolman Chaudhary delivered a statement on behalf of the President of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the High-Level Launch of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.
27 April 2023
AIIN co-organized
The Challenges of Sickle Cell Anemia on Indigenous Peoples in Asia and Africa: A Case Study on the Tharu Peoples of Nepal
During the 22nd Session of UNPFII, AIIN co-organized this side event on the challenges of sickle cell anemia for Indigenous Peoples in Asia and Africa, centred on a case study of the Tharu Peoples of Nepal. The official UNPFII side-event calendar lists AIIN as an organizer; organization-supplied information also records collaboration with UNDESA and UNPFII.
2023
Phoolman Chaudhary — panelist
UN Water Conference 2023 Side Event
AIIN participated in a UN Water Conference 2023 side event at United Nations Headquarters in New York concerning traditional knowledge of water management and governance among the Tharu Indigenous Peoples, jointly with the Government of the Netherlands. Research also identifies Phoolman Chaudhary as a panel participant in a side event on Indigenous Peoples and sustainable water governance.
26 July 2023
Phoolman Chaudhary — speaker
UN Food Systems Summit +2 — Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems
Phoolman Chaudhary was listed as a speaker for the Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems session at the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment, identified as a Tharu person and Executive President of AIIN.
25 September 2024
Phoolman Chaudhary — speaker
United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Sea-Level Rise
Phoolman Chaudhary, Executive President of AIIN, delivered a statement in the panel on knowledge, data and science to inform sea-level rise risk assessments and decision making at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Sea-Level Rise.
2 July 2025
AIIN organized
Establishing and Promoting Indigenous Financial Institutions for a Sustainable Economic Future
At the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, AIIN was included in the organizer list for a side event on establishing and promoting Indigenous financial institutions. The programme also names the National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities, Nepal, and Foundation for Human Horizon, New York.
29 July 2025
AIIN — institutional status
AIIN granted Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC
On 29 July 2025, the United Nations Economic and Social Council granted Asian Indigenous International Network Special Consultative Status under ECOSOC Decision 2025/336.

Institutional leadership in context

Where a record concerns Phoolman Chaudhary’s individual service or contribution, it is labeled accordingly. This preserves the distinction between his documented role and AIIN’s institutional work.

View Executive Leadership

International Side Events

AIIN’s documented international side-event engagements have included activities in Spain, Italy, the United States, Thailand, Qatar, Switzerland, Russia, India, Nepal, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Estonia, the Netherlands, the Philippines and Ethiopia.

Related institutions include UNPFII, ECOSOC, FAO, IFAD, UNEP, UNEA, EMRIP and the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub.

Connect with AIIN.

For consultations, side events, policy dialogue and related institutional engagement, contact the network directly.

Contact AIIN

Bringing Indigenous perspectives into international processes

Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC

Engagement across international processes

UNPFII

Food, knowledge and sustainable development

Environment, water and human rights

A record of international contributions

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues — 2017–2019

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues — 2020–2022

UNPFII Regional Dialogue on Asia

Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems — Nurturing Mother Earth and Preserving Biodiversity

Launch of the Coalition on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems

High-Level Launch of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages

The Challenges of Sickle Cell Anemia on Indigenous Peoples in Asia and Africa: A Case Study on the Tharu Peoples of Nepal

UN Water Conference 2023 Side Event

UN Food Systems Summit +2 — Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems

United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Sea-Level Rise

Establishing and Promoting Indigenous Financial Institutions for a Sustainable Economic Future

AIIN granted Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC

Institutional leadership in context

International Side Events

Connect with AIIN.