DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL’S MESSAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL DAY OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

STRESSES THEIR CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE IN SUSTAINING DEVELOPMENT

Following is the text of United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro’s remarks at the commemoration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People in New York, today, 8 August:

Indigenous peoples all over the world are stewards of an immense wealth of diversity.  The United Nations is firmly committed to promoting and protecting the rights of every human being -- regardless of background, creed or culture.

Last year, as already said in the statement of the Secretary-General, the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.  A historic achievement, testifying to the importance Member States place on diversity.

We are seeing similar commitment in the United Nations family at large.  Earlier this year, the United Nations Development Group adopted guidelines to assist the Organization in integrating indigenous peoples’ issues into operational activities and programmes at the country level.

These guidelines will promote coherence in implementing a human rights-based and culturally sensitive approach to development for and with indigenous peoples.

The existence of indigenous people is crucial to sustaining development in the countries where they live.

I hope this normative framework will increase the participation of indigenous peoples in activities related to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, in particular the Millennium Development Goals. 

On this International Day of the World's Indigenous People, I commend the contributions of indigenous women in driving international cooperation on issues that confront their communities.  Their tireless support and dynamic leadership augur well for the development of indigenous peoples’ societies in years to come.

I also welcome the indigenous youth who come to the United Nations in great numbers for the annual sessions of the Permanent Forum -– and we have indigenous youth among us today from all over the world. 

We in the international community aspire to help place in your hands the tools for building a world where human rights, dignity and social justice for all indigenous peoples will be a reality.

Ladies and gentlemen, let us celebrate diversity.  Our different languages, music and ways of life are precisely what make the world a more colourful and richer place.

I wish you all the very best and thank you for your attention.

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For information media • not an official record