Local Editor
The United Nations General Assembly has approved a document strengthening the rights of indigenous peoples around the globe.
On Monday, the Outcome Document was approved by consensus at the beginning of the first World Conference on Indigenous Peoples in New York City.
Over a thousand delegates from indigenous communities as well as UN officials attended the conference.
After welcoming delegates with greetings in indigenous languages from Latin America, South Africa, New Zealand, Malaysia, North America, Norway and Sweden, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said indigenous people are “central to our discourse of human rights and global development,” and that they are “fully supported” by the UN.
“The success of this conference is integral to progress for all humanity,” he also said.
President of Norway’s Sami Parliament Aili Keskitalo while addressing the General Assembly said for decades indigenous people have been discriminated, marginalized and ignored.
She went on to say that the situation for indigenous people has started to change since 2007 when the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was approved.
“The challenge now remains to implement the provisions of the declaration, by closing the gaps between theory and practice, between inspiration and reality,” she added.
The high level of poverty in many indigenous regions will also be highlighted during the two-day gathering.
Source: Press Tv
