By resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994, the United Nations General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples shall be observed on 9 August every year. We will work with all partners, starting from indigenous peoples themselves, to ensure that the global community’s commitments to UNDRIP continue in the coming years. Racism, discrimination, the lack of basic services and the loss of their lands and resources that are essential for their welfare and cultural identity are problems that have not been solved yet, they insisted.
10 years ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which established a framework for the rights, dignity and well-being of indigenous peoples.
The joint statement came from the chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples.
Statistical data that is available shows clearly that indigenous people are left behind on all fronts, facing disproportionately higher levels of poverty, lower life expectancy and worse educational outcomes.
While the declaration is not legally binding, it could be used by Indigenous peoples to hold their respective governments to account, and was seen as particularly important in Australia, which does not have a treaty or bill of rights, and where there are race powers in the constitution still allowing governments to pass laws both for and against Aboriginal people. The date marks the day of the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations. “Individuals and communities who dare to defend Indigenous rights find themselves labeled as obstacles to progress, anti-development forces, and in some cases, enemies of the State or terrorists”.
“Today, First Nations stand in solidarity with Indigenous peoples everywhere to revitalize and restore our collective rights as peoples and to support one another in that goal”, said AFN National Chief Bellegarde. These positive trends have been enforced by the enhanced cooperation and partnerships between states, civil society at large and indigenous peoples. This declaration affirms that indigenous peoples are equal to all other peoples.
Since then, there has been a rising recognition and understanding of the challenges faced by indigenous peoples.
“We call on all States to close the gap between words and action, and to act now to deliver equality and full rights for all people from Indigenous backgrounds”, the statement concluded.