UN chief calls for greater efforts to ensure indigenous peoples' rights

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Saturday called upon the international community to do more to ensure the rights of indigenous peoples across the world.

In his message to mark the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, the secretary-general said more efforts are really important at a time when the world body celebrates its 70th anniversary and will adopt a global development agenda next month.

On the International Day, Ban said, "I call on the international community to ensure that they are not left behind. To create a better, more equitable future, let us commit to do more to improve the health and well-being of indigenous peoples. "

As the United Nations commemorates its 70th anniversary this year, it is important to look back on major advances for humanity, said Ban, who believed the 2007 adoption by the General Assembly of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was "one of many successes achieved through the fruitful partnership between indigenous peoples and United Nations member states."

"The year also marks a watershed in human development," he said. "The period of the Millennium Development Goals is drawing to a close to be succeeded by a post-2015 development agenda designed to advance inclusion and shared prosperity."

"The Declaration affirms the right to maintain indigenous health practices as well as to have access to all social and health services for the enjoyment of the highest standards of physical and mental health," he said. "We must make every effort to support indigenous peoples' rights and aspirations as affirmed in the Declaration."

While pointing out the fact that indigenous peoples face a wide range of challenges to their health and well-being, Ban said most of the problems are preventable, such as inadequate sanitation and housing, lack of prenatal care, widespread violence against women, and high rates of diabetes, drug and alcohol abuse, youth suicide and infant mortality.

"These issues must be urgently addressed as part of the post- 2015 development agenda in culturally appropriate ways that meet indigenous peoples' conceptions of and aspirations for well-being, " Ban added.

On Dec. 23, 1994, the UN General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples should be observed on Aug. 9 annually, with a mission to promote and protect the rights of the indigenous population in the world at large. This event also recognizes the achievements and contributions that indigenous peoples make to improve world issues such as environmental protection.