SECRETARY-GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS ACTIONS BY UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM, IN MESSAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WORLD'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, 9 AUGUST
Press Release
SG/SM/6297
SECRETARY-GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS ACTIONS BY UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM, IN MESSAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WORLD'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, 9 AUGUST
19970806 Following is the text of a statement by Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the occasion of the International Day of the World's Indigenous People, 9 August:August 9 has been designated by the General Assembly as the International Day of the World's Indigenous People. Today, we celebrate the diversity of the cultures of indigenous peoples and renew our efforts to improve their well-being and to ensure their human rights.
To advance the interests of indigenous peoples, the United Nations launched the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People for the period 1995 to 2004. The goal of the Decade is to strengthen international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as human rights, the environment, development, education and health. The Decade is now in its third year. The United Nations system is actively building partnerships with indigenous peoples and organizations to develop programme activities to address their concerns and to bring about improvements in conditions.
Many indigenous people suffer from crippling poverty, discrimination and poor access to basic necessities such as education, housing and health. Indigenous people have also experienced, over many years, the gradual deterioration of their land and resource base.
The United Nations has undertaken to draw up a declaration of rights as soon as possible. The declaration will create a framework for national and international action in favour of indigenous people.
As we reform the United Nations to meet the challenges of the next millennium, indigenous people will play an active part. The proposal by the Vienna Human Rights Conference to establish a permanent forum for indigenous people within the United Nations is under serious discussion.
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While standards for the protection of the rights of indigenous people are being developed, the United Nations system as a whole, through its development, environment and economic and social programmes, will continue to promote activities with the full participation of indigenous organizations.
Indigenous people should be brought into all projects that affect them as a matter of principle and as a means of guaranteeing the success of the projects. Indigenous people are renowned as guardians of nature. They were the first proponents of sustainable development. We need to call on their expertise, experience and wisdom as we seek solutions to the problems of the new century. In the words of one indigenous person: "We are, on the one hand, the most oppressed people on the globe. On the other hand, we are the hope for the future of people of the planet."
It is in this spirit that I call upon the international community to acknowledge the injustices of the past and to move towards a more understanding future.
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