World Honors Indigenous Rights on International Day of the Indigenous Peoples

August 9, 2024 marks the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, a day set aside to bring to light the needs and rights of these vital population groups. As the world celebrates this important occasion, the focus this year is on protecting their rights .

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Audrey Azoulay, upholding the rights, cultures, and knowledge of indigenous peoples is of paramount importance.

"Indigenous peoples are actors of change, guardians of natural resources and carriers of unique worldviews, knowledge and skills," she said. "We must protect their traditions and ways of life – while respecting their rights."

Indeed, the approximately 200 groups of indigenous peoples currently living in voluntary isolation are playing a crucial role in safeguarding our planet. By choosing to remain apart from the rest of the world, they continue to engage in sustainable hunting and gathering practices, preserving the forests and ecosystems that they have protected for generations.

However, the encroachment of development, including agriculture, mining, tourism, and natural resource extraction, is increasingly disrupting the lives and habitats of these indigenous communities. Deforestation and environmental degradation threaten to undermine the very foundation of their existence, jeopardizing not only their way of life but also the health of the planet as a whole.

It is important to recognize the role these communities play as the caretakers of our natural resources. This year’s focus is on ‘Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact’. Their voluntary isolation and initial contact are the best protectors of the forest. Therefore, their survival is crucial to the protection of our planet.