International
Day of the World’s Indigenous People
(Statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights, Navi Pillay)
Since the introduction of the
International Day by the UN General Assembly some fifteen years ago, we have
achieved significant progress in our common efforts to advance the rights of
indigenous peoples. This includes the adoption of the UN Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a genuine landmark in terms of human rights
standards, and the launch of three UN mandates devoted to the rights of
indigenous peoples.
Still, the reality faced by
indigenous peoples is all too often far from the human rights principles
contained in the Declaration and in human rights treaties.
We must step up our efforts to
close this gap and make the Declaration something more than a pledge of intent.
Today’s International Day is an excellent occasion to reaffirm our commitment
to translating positive developments in international human rights standards
into concrete progress for indigenous peoples.
To achieve this, we all - States,
indigenous peoples, the United Nations system and others concerned - must join
our efforts and reach solutions based on true dialogue, mutual understanding,
tolerance and respect for human rights. This is no easy task. But it is the
only way we can move the rights of indigenous peoples from paper to practice.
My Office is committed to
advocating universal adherence and implementation of the Declaration and will
continue to support human rights mechanisms dealing with the rights of indigenous
peoples.
Extracted
from: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/