International Day of the Worlds Indigenous People
The 12th commemoration of the International Day of the World's Indigenous People was held on Wednesday 9 of August 2006 at UN Headquarters in New York, organized by the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the NGO Committee on the Decade of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
In 1994, the General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World's Indigenous People shall be observed on 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (Resolution 49/214 of 23 December). The date marks the day of the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.
The UN General Assembly had proclaimed 1993 the International Year of the World's Indigenous People, and the same year, the Assembly proclaimed the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, starting on 10 December 1994 (Resolution 48/163). The goal of the First Decade was to strengthen international cooperation for solving problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as human rights, the environment, development, education and health.
In 2004, the UN General Assembly proclaimed a Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples through Resolution 59/174. The goal of the Second Decade is to further the "strengthening of international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as culture, education, health, human rights, the environment, and social and economic development, by means of action-oriented programs and specific projects, increase technical assistance, and relevant standard-setting activities".
9 August 2006
The 12th commemoration of the International Day of the World's Indigenous People will be on Wednesday 9 of August 2006 at UN Headquarters in New York, organized by the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues DSDP/DESA and the NGO Committee on the Decade of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples.
There will be statements delivered on behalf of the Secretary-General, USG/DESA, the Chairperson of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and others.
A panel discussion entitled: Indigenous Peoples: human rights, dignity and development with identity", a screening of the film Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations, as well as a cultural performance will take place from 2:30pm to 6pm. at the Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium
