UNESCO celebrates International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2015 – 9 August
On 9 August UNESCO annually celebrates the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. This day was first pronounced by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1994. The chosen date marks the day of the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.
According to the Director-General, Ms. Irina Bokova, «UNESCO is working to have culture fully recognized as an enabler and a driver of inclusive and sustainable development». This day highlights the fact that the diversity of cultural expressions of indigenous peoples (artistic traditions, music, craftsmanship or contemporary art) is a solid part of world’s cultural heritage, so the importance of it should not be underestimated.
On this International Day, UNESCO is focused on promoting the diversity of cultural expressions and scientific knowledge of indigenous peoples, as well as highlighting the importance of their right of maintaining traditional practices. Local and traditional knowledge play the essential role in preservation of the ecological security and sustainable development.
Read more about the celebrations of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/international-day-of-the-worlds-indigenous-peoples-2015
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