August 9: International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed every year on 9 August to promote and protect the rights of the world’s indigenous population.
Significance of the Day: It recognizes the contributions and achievements of the indigenous people to improve world issues such as environmental protection.
2016 Theme: “Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Education”. The theme is devoted to the right to education of indigenous people as a critical education gap exists between indigenous peoples and the general population.
The right of indigenous peoples to education is also protected by a number of other international instruments including Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Goal 4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development also calls for ensuring equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including indigenous peoples.
Background

• The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples was pronounced by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) with adoption of resolution 49/214 on 23 December 1994.
• The date marks the day of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in 1982.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2016