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On 23 December 1994, the United Nations General Assembly decided, in its resolution 49/214, that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People shall be observed on 9 August every year. The date marks the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations.
The International Day observance will take place online on Friday, 9 August 2024.
This year’s theme is: Protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact
Virtual Commemoration on 9 August 2024 - Protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact
(09-10:30am EST/New York time)
Interpretation will be available in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
To register for the virtual event, please click: https://tinyurl.com/IndigenousDay24
Event Format
The virtual commemoration will include an opening segment with a traditional ceremony, followed by a pre-recorded statement from the UN Secretary-General and a statement from the Chair of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
A moderated panel with invited speakers will consider who Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact are, and the pressing challenges that they face for their survival. This will be followed by a discussion with invited speakers to share advancements on how their rights can be effectively recognized and protected.
Invited Speakers
Traditional Opening Ceremony: Mr. Manari Ushigua Santi, political and spiritual leader of the Sápara Nation
Video Message by Mr. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
Message by Ms. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, UNPFII Chairperson
Panel Discussion
Mr Eduardo Pichilingue Ramos, Director, Fundación Pachamama Perú
Ms Rukka Sombolinggi (Toraja), Secretary-General, AMAN
Ms Hueiya Alicia Cahuiya Iteca (Waorani), National leader of CONAIE’s Bureau
Mr Jose Francisco Calí Tzay, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Maya Kaqchikel)
Mr Manuel Carmona Yebra, Deputy Head of Global Issues and Innovation & Counsellor for Environment and Oceans, Delegation of EU to US
Ms Caroline Pearce, Executive Director, Survival International
Closing Remarks
Freddy Mamani Machaca (Quechua Aymara), Coordinator of Indigenous Affairs, Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization
To see the communications and outreach package for the International Day, please visit our Trello board.
Video for the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples 2024
Video of Event Commemoration on the International day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
Messages on the Occasion of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
- António Guterres, UN Secretary General
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CBD: Ms Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity
- WIPO: Daren Tang, Director General EN | ES | FR
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UNESCO: Message from Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO
Outreach and Media
- IFAD:
- IPAF video
- IFAD Web story by Helen Biangalen-Magata: Climate finance isn't working for Indigenous Peoples. This must change
- IFAD Web story Indigenous Peoples show how both people and the planet can thrive in harmony
- Farms.Food.Future podcast episode 65: The Indigenous Peoples stewarding the planet Podcast Episode 65 Link
- Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems: Lessons Learned from the SAMRIDDHI Rural Enterprises and Remittances Project in Nepal
- Noticias ONU: Entrevista con Darío Mejía Montalvo
- OHCHR: Indigenous Peoples: “Isolation is a strategy of collective preservation”
- World Bank: