Commemorating the date of the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed on August 9 each year to promote and protect the rights of the world’s indigenous populations.
The Day also recognizes the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to world issues such as environmental protection. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to observe the Day by spreading the UN’s message on indigenous peoples.
Despite the global diversity of indigenous peoples, they share common problems and issues related to the arrival and intrusion of foreign and possibly dominating cultures, including systemic discrimination, pressure to assimilate into surrounding societies, and the loss of cultural self-determination.
The theme for the 2015 Day is Post 2015 Agenda: Ensuring indigenous peoples’ health and well-being.
Learn More:
- New UN report highlights “crisis” for the human rights of Indigenous peoples in Canada – Amnesty International
- The situation of indigenous peoples in Canada – Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples
- Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – UN General Assembly
- Know Your Rights! – Adolescent-friendly version of Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – UNICEF
- Guidelines on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues – UN Development Group
