UN and WHO Embrace Indigenous Health Framework as Global Policy Driver

The Indigenous Determinants of Health (IDH) Framework was launched in 2023 to address gaps in understanding health, environment, and interconnectedness. It established Indigeneity as a key determinant of health, incorporating 33 risk and protective factors specific to Indigenous Peoples. In 2023, the framework was introduced as a response to longstanding gaps in health research and policy. It highlighted Indigeneity as an umbrella determinant, shaping health outcomes through unique risks and protective factors.

The following year, the 2024 study expanded the framework to offer practical tools. These tools were designed for UN entities, member states, and other institutions to integrate Indigenous health determinants into policy and practice.

Also in 2024, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity adopted Decision 16/19. This decision formally referenced the IDH Framework in its Global Plan of Action on Biodiversity and Health. It acknowledged the central role of Indigenous Peoples in biodiversity conservation, human health, and climate resilience.

The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues repeatedly urged action on the framework. In 2023, 2024, and 2025, it recommended that member states and UN agencies adopt the IDH Framework to improve health equity.

In 2025, a new study introduced the IDH Evaluation Instrument. This tool allowed institutions to assess their progress in addressing Indigenous health risks and protective factors. The same year, the World Health Organization recognised Indigeneity as a determinant of health in its report on Social Determinants of Health Equity.

By 2026, further research demonstrated the framework’s broader impact. The study showed how Indigenous health serves as a systems integrator and a measure of policy integrity across different sectors. The IDH Framework has gained recognition from major global bodies like the WHO and the UN. Its tools and recommendations are now being used to shape policies and practices. The framework continues to highlight the vital connections between Indigenous health, biodiversity, and climate resilience.