Islamabad (Web Desk): International Day of World's Indigenous Peoples is being observed today (Friday) to raise awareness about the problems being faced by indigenous peoples who are the inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures.
This year's theme is ‘Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact’.
The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples has its roots in the United Nations’ (UN) efforts to recognize and support Indigenous communities. It was initiated after the first conference of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations (UNWGIP) held on August 9, 1982.
Twelve years later, on December 23, 1994, the UN General Assembly officially designated August 9 as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples through resolution 49/214. Since then, this day has been observed annually to raise awareness about the rights, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples worldwide.
As per the UN, there are an estimated 476 million indigenous peoples in the world living across 90 countries. They make up less than 6% per cent of the world's population, but account for at least 15% of the poorest. They speak an overwhelming majority of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures.