August 9 International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

In 1994, the UN General Assembly decided to make the August 9 International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (resolution 49/214) each year during the International Decade of Indigenous Peoples. This date marks the day of the first meeting of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in 1982.

The purpose of the Decade is to strengthen international cooperation for solving problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as human rights, environment, development, education and health. The coordinator of the Decade is the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

In April 2000, the Human Rights Commission adopted a resolution on the establishment of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, which was approved by the Economic and Social Council 28 July 2000 (S / RES / 2000 / 22). The Forum will provide advice on matters related to social and economic development, human rights, education, health and the environment.

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