UN chief’s message on International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

August 09, 2013 - The United Nations chief has urged member states to take concrete steps to address the challenges facing the world’s indigenous peoples, especially their marginalization and exclusion, by honouring all treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements, and examining what more can be done. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon’s exhortation came in his message for the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Friday, August 9, whose theme this year was, "Indigenous peoples building alliances: Honouring treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements." Ban said, “Such consensual arrangements enable better understanding of their views and values and are essential for protecting and promoting rights and establishing the political vision and necessary frameworks for different cultures to coexist in harmony.” Marveling at their remarkable diversity with more than 5,000 distinct groups in some 90 countries, Ban noted they number some 370 million, making up more than 5 per cent of the world’s population. It is important, he said, that we strive to strengthen partnerships that will help preserve cultural vigour while facilitating poverty reduction, social inclusion and sustainable development. He thus called for ensuring the participation of indigenous women and men in decision-making at all levels, particularly with regard to discussion and action towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals and defining the post-2015 development agenda. In view of next year’s World Conference on Indigenous, the Secretary-General urged all to work together to strengthen indigenous peoples’ rights and support their aspirations. (Source: UN)