UN Launches State of the World’s Indigenous People Publication

United Nations has launched its first publication on the sate of the world’s indigenous people globally.

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS.   The first United Nations publication on the state of the world’s indigenous people was officially launched worldwide yesterday in Mexico City, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, Brussels and at the United Nations headquarters in New York. 

The publication, which is a cooperative effort of independent experts working  with the Secretariat  of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous  Issues states  that,  “indigenous people globally continue to suffer from disproportionally high rates of poverty, health problems, crime and human rights abuses.”  The study also revealed that brutality, marginalisation, denial of land rights and other abuses are some of the challenges faced by indigenous people.

In the Caribbean, UNIFEM has commissioned four baseline studies on the state of indigenous women in Commonwealth of Dominica, Belize, Suriname and Guyana.  The studies revealed that indigenous women in the region do not have full access to culturally appropriate and inclusive education, health care, social service, economic opportunities and have limited participation and influence in political and governance processes.   The UNIFEM commissioned study also revealed the following:
•    A lack of specific state policies and programmes targeting indigenous women’s rights;
•    A lack of coordination and networking at community, national and international levels;
•    A lack of documentation and disaggregated information specific to indigenous women; and
•    Limited participation and political influence by indigenous women in national development processes.

UNIFEM and all UN Agencies are committed to advancing the agenda on indigenous peoples’ issues in the Caribbean.

The State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples publication addresses self determination, cultural diversity, environment, education, health and human rights.  The last chapter addresses emerging issues affecting indigenous people including violence, globalisation, migration and urbanisation.