Indigenous representatives demonstrated on Thursday, August 20, 2026, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, demanding effective participation in the negotiations of the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17), and denouncing the removal of several agenda items at the request of the United States. The protest took place during the conference, held from August 17 to 28, 2026, in Ulaanbaatar, according to the official event record.
The protesters called for the reinstatement of discussions on gender, the participation of Indigenous Peoples, and local communities in the agenda. They argue that their presence in consultation spaces does not guarantee them real influence over decisions. The official report of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification indicated that the conference adopted its provisional agenda without several items, deferring their consideration for further consultations. The document mentions interventions by the United States and other delegations, without officially attributing the deferral to any specific country.
However, a report by Agência Brasil published on August 20 indicates that the items related to gender and social participation were postponed at Washington's request. Adopting the agenda requires consensus among the convention's 197 parties.
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, leader of the Fulani Women's Pastoralist Association in Chad, stated that the participation of Indigenous Peoples must not remain symbolic, calling for recognition of their territorial rights, knowledge, and role in protecting lands. COP16 in Riyadh had established a group for Indigenous Peoples' stakeholders and a group for local communities to better integrate their perspectives into the convention's work. In Ulaanbaatar, the mobilized representatives believe these spaces must now translate into full participation in negotiations.
Indigenous organizations highlight their expertise in managing rangelands, water, and drought-affected lands, demanding that their land rights and consent be taken into account in restoration programs that could directly impact their communities. The official program of COP17 includes a day dedicated to "Land and Peoples" on August 26, with a session devoted to women and men pastoralists, as well as a special event focusing on Indigenous Peoples and local communities.