The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on the international community to commit to do more to improve the health and well-being of indigenous peoples who face challenges that range from inadequate sanitation and housing to high rates of diabetes, drug and alcohol abuse.
Ban Ki-moon in his message to mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples message, observed annually on 9 August said “These issues must be urgently addressed as part of the post-2015 development agenda in culturally appropriate ways that meet indigenous peoples’ conceptions of and aspirations for well-being.
“We must make every effort to support indigenous peoples’ rights and aspirations as affirmed in the Declaration.
“On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, I call on the international community to ensure that they are not left behind. To create a better, more equitable future, let us commit to do more to improve the health and well-being of indigenous peoples.”
Over 370 million people in more than 70 countries identify themselves as Indigenous Peoples.
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