On August 9th, 2024, the world will observe the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, a day dedicated to recognizing the rights, cultures, and contributions of indigenous populations globally. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994, this day aims to promote the preservation and protection of indigenous peoples’ rights.
The International Day of the Indigenous Peoples was declared for the first time in December 1994 by the General Assembly of the United Nations which was held each year during the first International Decade of the Indigenous Peoples of the World (1995-2004). In 2004, the Assembly proclaimed, from 2005 to 2015, a Second International Decade under the theme of ‘Decade for Action and Dignity.’
Theme of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2024
This year the theme of International Day of Worlds Indigenous Peoples 2024 is- ‘Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact‘
The theme for this year’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (2024) is “Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact.” The greatest guardians of the forest are the indigenous people who choose intentional solitude and early encounter. The trees flourish alongside their societies in areas where their collective rights to lands and territories are upheld. Furthermore, their existence is essential to both the preservation of cultural and linguistic diversity as well as the preservation of our planet. The existence of Indigenous Peoples in deliberate seclusion and early contact in today’s hyperconnected world is a testament to the vast and intricate tapestry of humanity, and their disappearance would be a great loss to our planet.
One of the biggest risks of external contact for Indigenous Peoples who live in deliberate isolation and first encounter is disease exposure. They lack the immunological defenses against relatively frequent diseases because of their isolation. Therefore, forced interaction with the outside world might have disastrous effects and perhaps bring an entire society to its knees.
According to the International Labor Organization, there are some 476,6 million indigenous people in 90 countries worldwide, belonging to 5,000 ethnic communities.
In order to raise awareness of the needs of indigenous people, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is celebrated every 9 August. They need us particularly now. We need the traditional wisdom, voices and awareness of the indigenous peoples particularly now.
