9 August 2008. New-York – Kyiv – Today
International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is observed. UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed world community on the occasion of this
intenational day and urged them to protcect and promote rights of indigenous
people and their languages.
In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 9
August as the International Day of the
World’s Indigenous People. There were
many reasons for this decision, but the fundamental motivation was the
Assembly’s recognition of the need to place the United Nations clearly and
strongly behind the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous
peoples, in order to put an end to their marginalization, their extreme
poverty, the expropriation of their traditional lands and the other grave human
rights abuses they have faced and continue to encounter. Indeed, the suffering of indigenous peoples includes
some of the darkest episodes in human history.
Important as it was, proclamation of the day was only a
prelude to a greater milestone: last fall’s adoption by the General Assembly of
the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Declaration is a visionary step towards
addressing the human rights of indigenous peoples. It sets out a framework on which states can
build or re-build their relationships with indigenous peoples. The result of more than two decades of
negotiations, it provides a momentous opportunity for states and indigenous
peoples to strengthen their relationships, promote reconciliation, and ensure
that the past is not repeated. I
encourage Member States and indigenous peoples to come together in a spirit of
mutual respect, and make use of the Declaration as the living document it is so
that it has a real and positive effect throughout the world.
As 2008 is the International Year of Languages, this
International Day is also an opportunity to recognize the silent crisis
confronting many of the world’s languages, the overwhelming majority of which
are indigenous peoples’ languages. The
loss of these languages would not only weaken the world’s cultural diversity,
but also our collective knowledge as a human race. I call on States, indigenous peoples, the UN
system and all relevant actors to take immediate steps to protect and promote
endangered languages, and to ensure the safe passage of this shared heritage to
future generations.
More information about International Day of the World’s
Indigenous People.
01.08.08
