2011-08-06 19:49:42

Message of UN Secretary General for the International Day for Indigenous Peoples


(August 06, 2011) On the occasion of the International Day of Indigenous Peoples, to be held on Tuesday 9th August, the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, in his message, reaffirmed the rights of these people and the common commitment of the world to promote the values of equity, justice and dignity for all. The remarkable variety of this population is manifested by the 5000 odd distinct groups present in close upon 90 countries constituting a total of some 370 million persons, accounting for 5% of the world population. They are the caretakers of a precious patrimony that risks rapid extinction. We see their creativity and their innovations in the field of the arts, of literature and the sciences. This contribution is expressed in the slogan for this year, namely: “Indigenous designs, celebrating history and culture, fashioning our very future.” Indigenous peoples face an uphill task to maintain their identity, their own traditions and costumes and their cultural contribution, all of which are exploited and commercialized without any credit to them.
It is the duty of the international society to help these peoples protect their rights and their cultural patrimony, and their traditional know how and to develop these further for their own and our benefit.








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