International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is observed every year on 9 August.
The day marked to laud the rights of Indigenous People and their holistic recognition. This year the day was observed under the theme AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures.
Indigenous peoples play a vital role in preserving the world’s cultural and biological diversity, yet many continue to face marginalization, extreme poverty, and human rights violations.
Lakota in the USA, the Mayas in Guatemala or the Aymaras in Bolivia, the Inuit and Aleutians of the circumpolar region, the Saami of northern Europe, the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders of Australia and the Maori of New Zealand are among the indigenous peoples in the globe. According to data, nearly 125.3 million Indigenous people live in China which counts as the highest in number in the world.
Indigenous Peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live.
It is estimated that 476 million Indigenous Peoples, which is 6 % of the world’s population, live in the world across 90 countries. They speak 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures.
In order to raise awareness about Indigenous People’s rights and needs, the day was first proposed at a UN Conference in 1977. But it was endorsed by the meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations held in Geneva in 1982.
Since then, 9 August every year has been marked as International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
Commemorating the day, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has announced the names of winners of the 2025 Equator Prize that carries US $10,000.
Winners from various parts of the world demonstrating this year’s prize theme, “Nature for Climate Action” will be honored at a high-level online ceremony later this year.
“On this important day, the 2025 Equator Prize winners are a reminder of the importance of honoring and recognizing the vision and leadership of Indigenous Peoples and local communities,” said UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support Mr. Marcos Neto.
