In his message regarding the International Day of Indigenous Peoples, the head of the United Nations Organization (UN) described as vital to this the participation of young people in decision-making within these populations.
This year’s date dedicates special attention to indigenous youth as agents of change for self-determination with the aim of vindicating the role of the new generations in decision-making.
At the same time, he recognizes their efforts in climate action, the search for justice and the creation of an intergenerational connection that keeps their culture and traditions alive.
On the eve of the commemoration, the UN special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples Cali Tzay urged states to take measures to guarantee their full public and political participation, which depends to a large extent on their youth, especially leadership. and the empowerment of indigenous women and girls.
Younger groups in these communities are affected by threats to their rights, livelihoods and culture, including intergenerational impacts stemming from the negative legacies of colonialism and disproportionate underrepresentation in decision-making, further affecting young indigenous people.
For his part, the president of the UN General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi, described indigenous peoples as agents of change “at the forefront of efforts to safeguard ecosystems and ensure environmental justice and equity.”
A sustainable future depends on protecting their rights, listening to their knowledge and honoring their traditions, languages and cultures, he remarked in a message posted on Twitter.
According to UN estimates, there are 476 million indigenous people in the world living in 90 countries.
They make up less than five percent of the world’s population, but represent 15 percent of the poorest.
Indigenous peoples speak the overwhelming majority of the planet’s approximately 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures.
Despite the heritage that they conserve, these communities share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct populations.
“Racism, stereotypes, and a lack of financial resources and support from public institutions and private entities continue to be persistent challenges for indigenous youth to meaningfully participate in decisions that affect them,” Special Rapporteur Tzay recently stated. .
For this reason, the International Day of Indigenous Peoples seeks to redirect attention to the needs of these groups while calling for the adoption of special measures to protect their rights and maintain their cultures and differentiated ways of life.
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