International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2013

Programme of the Day

The 19th commemoration of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples was held on Friday, 9 August 2013 at UN Headquarters in New York, organized by the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues DSPD/DESA, the United Nations Department of Public Information, and the NGO Committee on the Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

There were statements delivered on behalf of the Secretary-General, the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs - DESA, the Chairperson of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and others.

News and Media

• Press Release
• Webcast of the Secretary-General making remarks on the occasion of International Day
• Webcast of the observance at UN Headquarters

Messages of the Day

• Message from the Secretary-General of the United Nations
  AR - EN - ES- FR  - RU - ZH
• Remarks by the Secretary-General of the United Nations 
• Remarks by the Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs
• Remarks by the Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights
• Message from the Chairperson of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
• Message from UNESCO
• Message from the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights
• Message from the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
• Message from UN Women
• Message from UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)
• Message from WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)
• Message from Stop TB Partnership
• Message from IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development)
• Message from ILO (International Labour Organization)
• Message from the International Land Coalition
• Message from PAHO (Pan American Health Organization)
• Message from UNICEF

*The theme aims to highlight the importance of honouring treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements, between States, its citizens and indigenous peoples. Both indigenous and non-indigenous peoples have a pivotal role in making treaties “living documents” in their own communities, by establishing new ways to live together, respecting one another and cooperating in the pursuit of common goals. This contributes to building societies that guarantee the security of their communities, while preserving the environment in recognition of the unique spiritual, cultural and historic relationship between indigenous peoples and their lands and natural resources.

The theme is inspired by the Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign, an educational advocacy campaign organized by the Haudenosaunee people (a confederacy of six nations living in New York State), to honour their first treaty concluded with Dutch immigrants in 1613. (For more information, visit http://honorthetworow.org).