International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (9 August)
Posted: 9 August 2018 at 7:30 am | Author: CAW Business School
There are an estimated 370 million indigenous people in the world, living across 90 countries.
Despite making up less than 5 percent of the world’s population, indigenous people account for 15 percent of the poorest. They speak an overwhelming majority of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures.
Indigenous communities maintain unique cultures and ways of life that make them different from the societies in which they live. They have fought for their right to traditional lands and natural resources for years; however, many indigenous peoples share histories of removal from traditional lands, destruction of their cultures, discrimination and widespread violations of their human rights.
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed on Thursday 9th August 2018, and encourages people globally to spread the word about the protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous people. The day also recognises the traditions, achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection. To find out more visit the UN website.