The low standards of health
among indigenous communities is perpetuating the gap in many countries between
the recognition of their rights and the actual situation on the ground,
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, calling for swift action to find
solutions.
9 August 2009 – The low standards of health among indigenous communities is
perpetuating the gap in many countries between the recognition of their rights
and the actual situation on the ground, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said
today, calling for swift action to find solutions. In his message on the
International Day of the World's Indigenous People, the Secretary-General
appealed to governments and civil society "to act with urgency and
determination to close this implementation gap, in full partnership with
indigenous peoples."
This year's Day focuses on the threat posed by HIV and AIDS, and Mr. Ban
underscored the importance of indigenous people having access to the
information and services needed for detection, treatment and prevention.
This marginalized group – numbering 370 million in 70 countries – suffers
disproportionately from low health standards linked to poverty, malnutrition,
environmental contamination and inadequate healthcare, he said.
Calling the world's indigenous peoples the "custodians of some of the most
biologically diverse areas on Earth" who speak a majority of all
languages, the Secretary-General welcomed some recent national moves in which
governments have apologized for past injustices, while others have adopted
legal reforms.
But he cautioned that "many face discrimination and racism on a daily
basis," as well as poverty and inadequate access to education.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said the International Day is
an occasion to reaffirm the commitment to translate positive developments in
international human rights standards into concrete progress for indigenous
peoples.
"To achieve this, we all – States, indigenous peoples, the United Nations
system and others concerned – must join our efforts and reach solutions based
on true dialogue, mutual understanding, tolerance and respect for human
rights," she noted in a statement.
"This is no easy task. But it is the only way we can move the rights of
indigenous peoples from paper to practice."
Ms. Pillay, in an opinion piece published today in The Hindu, stressed that the
world's indigenous peoples need and deserve more than just symbolic
celebrations on 9 August. "After centuries of repression, they need comprehensive
tools to defend their human rights, their way of life, and their
aspirations."
One such tool, she noted, is the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples. Adopted in 2007, the Declaration underscores the right of indigenous
peoples to all social and health services, and to the enjoyment of the highest
standards of physical and mental health.
"We must step up our common efforts to make the Declaration something more
than a mere pledge of intent. We must translate its letter and spirit into
concrete change, change that can be felt in indigenous peoples' daily
life."
In 1994, the General Assembly proclaimed 9 August – the anniversary 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 – to be the
International Day of the World's Indigenous People.
It will be commemorated this year at UN Headquarters in New York tomorrow with
cultural events and panel discussions.
