Accent on indigenous peoples

The concern about indigenous people in the world has risen considerably in recent times. Not so long ago, in most countries they were looked down upon as an uncivilised set of people. The indigenous people have attracted the attention of the United Nations as well.

So far the United Nations Postal Administration has issued two sets of stamps on the subject in order to create public awareness and pinpoint on the need to treat the indigenous people with dignity and respect.

9 August has been declared ‘The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People’ since 1995 when the United Nations proclaimed the first International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (1995-2004). In 2004, the General Assembly proclaimed a second International Decade, from 2005-2015, with the theme ‘A Decade for Action and Dignity.’

The focus of this year’s International Day was ‘Indigenous Media, Empowering Indigenous Voices.’

Who are indigenous people and why are they so called? The UN identifies indigenous people as the inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to other people and to the environment.

They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Despite their cultural differences, the various groups of indigenous people around the world share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples.

It has been estimated that there are over 300 million indigenous people in around 90 countries worldwide. They are from diverse geographical and cultural backgrounds. However, they share challenges such as lack of basic health care, limited access to education, loss of control over land, discrimination, forced assimilation, abject poverty, displacement, human rights violations, and economic and social marginalisation.

The second set of 18 commemorative stamps released in October 2010 featured indigenous people from numerous countries in their traditional costumes and styles.

Throughout the world, they have sought recognition of their identities, their ways of life and their right to traditional lands, territories and natural resources. It has been accepted that throughout history, their rights have been violated. Arguably they are among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of people in the world today.

The problem has reached the point where the international community now recognises that special measures are required to protect the rights of the world’s indigenous people.

In September 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a landmark declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The process of drafting and debating the document took over 20 years which alone shows the rather indifferent attitude on the part of member nations on the subject. It is, however, accepted that the declaration is the most comprehensive statement of the rights of indigenous peoples ever developed.

It gives prominence to collective rights to a degree unprecedented in international human rights law. It emphasises the rights of indigenous peoples to live in dignity, to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions and to pursue their self-determined development in keeping with their needs and aspirations.

Analysts claim that the adoption of the declaration is the clearest indication yet that the international community is committing itself to the protection of the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples.

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon said that the loss of irreplaceable cultural practices and means of means of artistic expression makes us all poorer, wherever our roots may lie. He was addressing the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 2010. The theme of the forum was ‘Development with Culture and Identity.’