The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is the UN body that holds a mandate to coordinate the work of the UN System on indigenous issues. It is also mandated to address indigenous issues in six main thematic areas: economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights. In addition, the Forum identifies and examines specific issues of relevance to indigenous peoples at its annual session, which adopts a general theme each year. The ILO contributes to the work of the Permanent Forum through technical inputs based on its experiences, activities and research at the national level.
The Inter-Agency Support Group (IASG) was created to support the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), as well as to ensure broader collaboration within the UN System on indigenous issues. Today, the IASG has a wider mandate and has more than 30 members among UN agencies, programmes and funds and other intergovernmental organizations.