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Secretary-General calls for making Indigenous rights a reality as forum opens
Opening the 9th session of the UN Permanent Forum on indigenous issues on Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that despite significant progress over the past 40 years, including the adoption of a declaration on indigenous rights, the creation of the forum itself, and the establishment of human rights mechanisms, there are still a number of challenges facing indigenous people.
UN Permanent Forum on indigenous issues
High levels of poverty, health problems, crime and human rights abuses, as well as an assault on their cultures, languages and ways of life from a number of sources are among those challenges. These are a tragedy not only for the indigenous people, the Secretary-General pointed out, but for the whole world.
"Slowly but surely, people are coming to understand that the well-being and sustainability of indigenous peoples are matters that concern us all. Diversity is strength - in cultures and in languages, just as it is in ecosystems. The loss of irreplaceable cultural practices and means of artistic expression makes us all poorer, wherever our roots may lie."
Mr. Ban said we need development that allows indigenous peoples to exercise their right to self-determination through participation in decision-making on an equal basis.
He called on all Governments, indigenous peoples, the UN system and all other partners to ensure that the vision behind the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples becomes a reality for all.
Bissera Kostova, UN Radio.
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