THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK-
California- Shammi Rana, CEO of the California-based non-profit organization International Council of Traditional Sports and Games (ICTSG), actively participated in the 24th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), held from 21 April to 2 May 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
This year’s Forum centered around the theme: “Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples within United Nations Member States and the United Nations System, including identifying good practices and addressing challenges.”
As part of his engagement, Mr. Rana took part in a side event focused on the World Games for Indigenous Peoples, highlighting achievements under Article 31 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This event, titled “Good Practices in the Implementation of UNDRIP through Global Cooperation for the Promotion of Indigenous Culture and Traditional Sports in Diversity,” was co-hosted by the International Council of Traditional Sports and Games and the Comité Intertribal Memória e Ciência Indígena. During the session, Marcos Terena, President of the Comité Intertribal Memória e Ciência Indígena, also introduced the upcoming World Indigenous Games 2025, to be held in Brazil.
Further showcasing his commitment to global collaboration, Mr. Rana also participated in a separate side event on the Commonwealth Sport Declaration, organized by WIN Sports International and co-sponsored by the International Organization of Indigenous Resource Development (IOIRD). This event sought to bolster multilateral support for indigenous athletes and cultural initiatives across Commonwealth nations and beyond.
Mr. Rana’s active involvement throughout UNPFII 2025 reaffirmed the International Council of Traditional Sports and Games’ steadfast dedication to promoting traditional sports as powerful tools for cultural preservation, empowerment, and global cooperation among Indigenous Peoples.
