SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES HUMAN RIGHTS OF WORLD'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
Press Release
SG/SM/6665
SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES HUMAN RIGHTS OF WORLD'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
19980805 On Occasion of International Day, Kofi Annan Recalls Distinctive Ways of Life of Indigenous People, Their Contribution to Culture WorldwideFollowing is the text of Secretary-General Kofi Annan's message on the occasion of the International Day of the World's Indigenous People, which was delivered today by Marta Mauras, Director, Executive Office of the Secretary-General:
Today, we have the opportunity to reflect upon the diversity of indigenous cultures and reaffirm the international community's commitment to the world's indigenous people, wherever they live. It is an opportunity to raise public awareness about indigenous people's distinctive ways of life, languages, customs and traditions, as well as their contribution to culture worldwide. Many of these are enjoying renewed recognition and rebirth; but others are facing marginalization and threats to their development.
The International Day of the World's Indigenous People was established in 1995 -- the year that launched the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People. The objective of the Decade is to strengthen international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in areas such as human rights, the environment, development, education and health.
Today, we look at how far we have come in the past four years and what we have yet to achieve.
The United Nations system is increasingly active in promoting the rights of indigenous peoples and developing programmes which will bring lasting benefits to these communities.
Our cooperation is firmly established as a policy framework under the theme of "Indigenous People: Partnership in Action". As the international community endeavours to give all peoples the possibility to live in conditions of dignity and justice, it must ensure that indigenous peoples also enjoy equal rights and treatment, while being given the opportunity of maintaining their cultural distinctiveness.
- 2 - Press Release SG/SM/6665 5 August 1998
Together, the Member States of the United Nations and indigenous peoples are now examining a draft declaration which will set out the rights which all indigenous people should enjoy.
It is a project of fundamental importance to all States, and all people.
In this fiftieth anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, let us reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that those rights are truly universal for all the people of the world; let us rededicate ourselves to establishing they apply in full to the world's indigenous people.
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