Commemoration of the International Day of the World's Indigenous People

Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
Dear Friends:


It is a pleasure to welcome you all here today. Let me extend a special welcome to the many indigenous women and men who have come to join us from around the world. I am delighted to continue the tradition of being with you at this annual commemoration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.

We come together in the first year of the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People, which commenced on 1 January 2005. The Second Decade provides us with an opportunity for taking forward and enhancing the work initiated during the First International Decade. While much was achieved, many complex and critical challenges remain. Indigenous communities are still among the world’s most marginalized, struggling to overcome discrimination, prejudice and intolerance. In many parts of the world, indigenous people continue to be disproportionately affected by poverty, ill health, violent conflict and environmental degradation.

As you know, from 14 to 16 September of this year, world leaders will come together in New York for the 2005 World Summit, where – among other issues – they will review progress made in implementing the commitments made in the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 2000 and the eight Millennium Development Goals that are drawn from that Declaration. The Declaration and Goals are our blueprints for progress for the world’s most vulnerable, and they are of direct concern to indigenous people. Importantly, the Millennium Development Goals are aimed at enabling people to bring about long-term change in their communities – by, for example, raising health standards, ensuring access to primary education and promoting gender equality. The Goals are therefore not only important targets in their own right, but they are also formidable tools for empowerment so that all people may be better able to shape their own societies in accordance with their priorities and practices.

Realizing the potential for progress encapsulated in the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals is a shared responsibility. This is reflected in Millennium Development Goal number eight, which calls for a global partnership for development between all stakeholders – Governments, international organizations and civil society. Indeed, with respect to indigenous issues, one of the accomplishments of the First International Decade has been the launch of a dialogue and partnership with the United Nations, giving indigenous people a stronger platform and a clearer voice in the Organization. It is my hope that we may build on these advances in the Second International Decade in support of the aspirations of indigenous peoples. As the Secretary-General pointed out in his “In Larger Freedom” report, civil society organizations have a particularly valuable role to play, including on indigenous issues, by helping to create or galvanize global partnerships on specific issues or draw attention to the plight of indigenous peoples or other marginalized groups.

The 2005 World Summit represents a historic opportunity for moving towards development, security and human rights for all and strengthening the United Nations as an instrument to serve these objectives. The commitment and contributions of indigenous people are important to these efforts. I am confident that the discussions that are currently taking place in the Working Group on Indigenous Populations will feed into and have a positive impact on these broader debates by ensuring the inclusion of the particular concerns and perspectives of indigenous people.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This annual commemoration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is not only an occasion for taking stock and highlighting the challenges ahead, but it also provides us with an opportunity to showcase – and to celebrate – the unique cultures and identities of indigenous communities. Today, we pay tribute to the strength and resilience of indigenous people and to their determination to protect and preserve their communities, while being an integral part of the wider international community, so that they may continue to enrich all of us. In this spirit, I look forward to enjoying the performances with you.

Thank you very much.