The President of the United Nations General Assembly appointed H.E. Ambassador Stan Oduma Smith, Permanent Representative of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the United Nations on 6 th April 2026 to serve as Co- Facilitator of intergovernmental consultations on enhancing the participation of Indigenous Peoples’ representatives and institutions in the work of the United Nations.

Ambassador Smith serves alongside H.E. Ambassador Penda Naanda, Permanent Representative
of the Republic of Namibia, in conducting consultations mandated by General Assembly Resolution 78/328, adopted in September 2024. The resolution calls for the identification and adoption of procedural and institutional steps to enable Indigenous Peoples to participate more fully in United Nations meetings on issues affecting their rights and livelihoods.

Ambassador Smith’s appointment as Co-Facilitator for the 80th session follows formal consultations conducted during the 78th session by the Permanent Representatives of Canada and Peru. The process builds on over a decade of General Assembly deliberations, and the appointment recognises The Bahamas’ leadership and its longstanding commitment to inclusive multilateralism, human rights, and the advancement of marginalised communities around the world.

The co-facilitation role also strengthens The Bahamas’ partnerships across regions, particularly
with Africa. The Bahamas–Namibia pairing reinforces the growing collaboration between the
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and African states, most recently demonstrated at the
Africa-CARICOM Summit held in Addis Ababa in September 2025.

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