International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

Source: UNFPA
http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=830

Statement on the Occasion of the International Day of the World's
Indigenous Peoples

Message of Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA

09 August 2006

Today UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, joins others in
commemorating the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. My
colleagues at UNFPA and I welcome the adoption in June of the Draft
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the Human Rights
Council. This step constitutes a milestone for the protection of their
human rights. Once adopted by the General Assembly, the Declaration will
serve as a roadmap for agencies such as UNFPA to follow in our programmes
at country level, and most importantly at the community level where
indigenous peoples live.

UNFPA is pleased to note important advances on a range of issues by
indigenous peoples during the last decade. These advances include
international recognition of their right to preserve their own culture and
traditional knowledge and their role in the conservation and sustainable
use of biodiversity; national frameworks and norms; and increased
participation in national and regional political processes. However, while
progress has been made in some areas, many challenges and obstacles still
remain.

Of particular concern to UNFPA are the thousands of indigenous women who
are victims of gender-based violence in need of legal protection and health
services, the high maternal mortality rates of indigenous women, and the
lack of information on sexual and reproductive health and development
opportunities for indigenous adolescents and youth. UNFPA is committed to
working with indigenous peoples to address these issues.

On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, let us all
join hands to support the human rights and freedoms of indigenous peoples,
including their right to self-determination, and to development in
accordance with their aspirations and needs.

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Distribuido por: Distributed by:
'AMAZON ALLIANCE' FOR INDIGENOUS AND
TRADITIONAL PEOPLES OF THE AMAZON BASIN
1367 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036-1860
tel (202)785-3334
fax (202)785-3335
amazon@amazonalliance.org
http://www.amazonalliance.org

Disclaimer: All copyrights belong to original publisher. The Amazon
Alliance has not verified the accuracy of the forwarded message. Forwarding
this message does not necessarily connote agreement with the positions
stated there-in.

Todos los derechos de autor pertenecen al autor originario. La Alianza
Amazonica no ha verificado la veracidad de este mensaje. Enviar este
mensaje no necesariamente significa que la Alianza Amazonica este de
acuerdo con el contenido.

La Alianza Amazonica para los Pueblos Indigenas y Tradicionales de la
Cuenca Amazonica es una iniciativa nacida de la alianza entre los pueblos
indigenas y tradicionales de la Amazonia y grupos e individuos que
comparten sus preocupaciones por el futuro de la Amazonia y sus pueblos.
Hay mas de ochenta organizaciones del norte y del sur activas en la Alianza
Amazonica. La Alianza Amazonica trabaja para defender los derechos,
territorios, y el medio ambiente de los pueblos indigenas y tradicionales
de la Cuenca Amazonica.

The Amazon Alliance for Indigenous and Traditional Peoples of the Amazon
Basin is an initiative born out of the partnership between indigenous and
traditional peoples of the Amazon and groups and individuals who share
their concerns for the future of the Amazon and its peoples. There are over
eighty non-governmental organizations from the North and South active in
the Alliance. The Amazon Alliance works to defend the rights, territories,
and environment of indigenous and traditional peoples of the Amazon Basin.

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