UNIS/SGSM/1423
9 August 2024
Indigenous Peoples represent around 6 per cent of the world's population.
Yet their stewardship signifies an outsized contribution to our global community.
They are the keepers of knowledge and traditions that help safeguard some of the most biodiverse areas of our planet.
As guardians of the environment, their survival is our survival.
Their unique way of life is a testament to the rich tapestry of humanity.
But they also face serious challenges that threaten their very existence.
Indigenous Peoples are often the victims of threats and violence.
Extractive and productive sectors, like mining, agriculture, and transport have accelerated deforestation and land degradation.
Ancestral homelands and natural resources that they depend on for survival are coming under siege.
And their rights to self-determination and agency – enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – are yet to be fulfilled.
This year’s theme reminds us of their rights to protect themselves from unwanted contact.
Contact that can have a devastating impact.
Exposure to infectious diseases, forced assimilation, and the disruption of culture, language, and livelihoods.
Today and every day, the world must stand behind the rights of Indigenous Peoples to chart their own futures.
Together, let us safeguard their rights to live in peace and dignity.
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"Working as one, we must push to repeal discriminatory laws, combat violence and harmful practices, and end the scapegoating of marginalized communities." — António Guterres
"From the telegraph to radio, from the Internet to Artificial Intelligence, technology has transformed how we live, work, and connect." — António Guterres
Barbados signed and deposited its instrument of ratification for the United Nations Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships (the “Beijing Convention on the Judicial Sale of Ships”) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 8 May 2025.
Journalists are invited to cover the 34th session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) to be held from 19 to 23 May in Vienna, Austria.
