International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
Date: 9 August
In 1994, the General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People shall be observed on 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (resolution 49/214 of 23 December). The date marks the day of the first meeting, in 1992, of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.
Already in 1990, the General Assembly proclaimed 1993 the International Year of the World’s Indigenous People (resolution 45/164), and in 1993, the Assembly proclaimed the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People, starting on 10 December 1994 (resolution 48/163). The goal of the Decade is to strengthen international cooperation for solving problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as human rights, the environment, development, education and health. The Coordinator of the Decade is the High Commissioner for Human Rights; its theme is “Indigenous people: Partnership in action”.
