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International Day of the World’s Indigenous People - 9 August
9 August 2005 - Today, we celebrate the international day of the world’s indigenous people. It is a day to celebrate the richness of cultural diversity in our world. It is also a day to be reminded of the insecure situation in which many indigenous peoples still have to survive day by day.
For UNEP, celebrating this international day has another important dimension: It is about recognizing the inextricable link between environmental and cultural diversity. In fact, people are integral parts of ecosystems. Indigenous peoples often inhabit many of our planet’s areas of highest biological diversity.
Not only animal and plant species, but also many indigenous peoples’ groups around the world are now faced with extinction. The unsustainable exploitation of our earth’s natural resources and marginalisation and dispossession of the lands and territories of indigenous peoples and minority groups are both cause and consequence of this loss.
Therefore, respect for human diversity implies respect for diversity in nature. Indeed, both elements are fundamental to stability and durable peace on earth. The key to creating forms of development that are sustainable and in harmony with the needs and aspirations of each culture implies breaking out of patterns that render invisible the lives and perspectives of indigenous cultures. It is the concern of UNEP that the environment should be appreciated in terms of human diversity, because different cultures perceive the environment in different ways.
UNEP equally stresses the important role indigenous peoples play in designing development pathways that are more sustainable and in harmony with the delicate balance of nature. Indigenous peoples have extensive knowledge in managing natural resources and are important partners for UNEP in this respect. Indeed, the very origins of environmental conservation lie in ancient cultures found throughout the world. Learning and respecting the ways of today’s indigenous and traditional peoples, and integrating them into environmental and development considerations, will prove indispensable for the survival of diversity in nature and culture.
Note to editors:
On 22 December 2004, the General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/59/174 for a Second International Decade on the World’s Indigenous Peoples, which commenced on 1 January 2005. The Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs was appointed Coordinator for the Second Decade. A draft comprehensive Programme of Action is currently under preparation based on comments received from indigenous peoples, the UN system and member states.
Accordingly, UNEP would like to take today’s opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to contribute to the Second Decade on the World’s Indigenous People.
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