Source and photo: FAO
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with the World Health Organization (WHO), has launched a global questionnaire specifically designed for Indigenous Peoples. Developed by the FAO/WHO Task Force on the Review of the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management (ICCPM), the questionnaire aims to collect the views, experiences, and concerns of Indigenous Peoples regarding pesticide use and management. It also seeks to ensure that the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is fully respected throughout the process.
The questionnaire is available in the six official UN languages — Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. Please note that the original version was drafted in English, and the translations are not official.
🗓 Deadline for submissions: 16 July 2025
👉 [Access the questionnaire here]
This initiative responds to a 2022 recommendation by the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), which called on FAO and WHO to amend the ICCPM to better reflect Indigenous Peoples’ rights, particularly the right to FPIC. In October 2024, the FAO Committee on Agriculture (COAG 29) formally endorsed this recommendation and approved a review of the Code.
The Joint FAO/WHO Task Force is working closely with the Working Group of the Joint Meeting on Pesticide Management (JMPM) and is committed to an inclusive, participatory process. Special emphasis is being placed on engagement with Indigenous Peoples from all seven sociocultural regions of the world.
This questionnaire offers Indigenous communities, organizations, and individuals an opportunity to contribute as rights holders and knowledge holders to the shaping of global pesticide management standards. The responses will help identify gaps, risks, and culturally appropriate approaches, ensuring that the revised ICCPM respects and upholds Indigenous Peoples’ rights, including FPIC.
Indigenous organizations, communities, and individuals are strongly encouraged to participate in this important consultation.
