Thursday, 9 August 2007
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE WORLD’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 2007

In a joint message on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour and UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples Rudolfo Stavenhagen warned that the world’s 370 million indigenous people “remain among the poorest of the poor” and are "largely overlooked” in global efforts to combat poverty, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Indigenous people make up 5 per cent of the global population but constitute 15 per cent of the world's poor. They are often subject to discrimination, exclusion from decision-making bodies, and a lack of information in indigenous languages

Rodolfo Stavenhagen addresses the Human Rights Council, in Geneva, Switzerland. © UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre

In their message Ms Arbour and Mr Stavenhagen said that, “halfway to the 2015 deadline for the MDGs, and with the impending adoption of the declaration by the General Assembly, it is time to call upon states and the international community to reach out to indigenous peoples and ensure that they also benefit from the pledge made by heads of state at the turn of the millennium”.

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed on 9 August each year and was created by General Assembly resolution 49/214 in 1994. It serves as a chance to celebrate humankind’s diversity but is also a reminder of the continuing marginalisation of indigenous peoples. For many, the focus on 9 August will be the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The draft declaration represents over 20 years of work and was adopted by the UN Human Rights Council on 29 June 2006. The draft declaration, which is now under consideration by the General Assembly, affirms the "collective right" of indigenous peoples to live securely as distinct groups and their right to self-determination. If adopted by the General Assembly the declaration will not be legally binding but will help set international human rights standards for the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples.

Click here to read Louise Arbour's message in full.

Please click here to visit the indigenous peoples pages of the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Click here to visit the official webpage for the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.