Mr. Wu Hongbo Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Secretary-General for the International Conference on Small Island Developing States
International Day of the World＊s Indigenous Peoples
8 August 2014, New York
H.E. Ambassador Gregoire of the Office of the 68th President of the General Assembly,
Vice-Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues,
Distinguished Elders,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Distinguished guests,
This year＊s International Day of the World＊s Indigenous Peoples is dedicated to theme ※Bridging the gap: implementing the rights of indigenous peoples”.
The Second Decade of the World＊s Indigenous People is coming to a close in December of this year.? There have been achievements in the implementation of the goals and objectives of the Plan of Action for the Second Decade, with the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a major landmark. However, we still have a long way to go for the full realization of the rights of indigenous peoples. Gaps remain between words and actions.
We can continue to build on the goals and objectives of the Second Decade and turn them into real commitments and concrete actions by Governments and by the UN system at large, in genuine partnership with indigenous peoples.
The major achievement of the Second Decade was, of course, the adoption, in 2007, of the 51勛圖 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the General Assembly. The UN Declaration establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity, well-being and rights of the world’s indigenous peoples.
The Declaration represents both a significant achievement and a challenge for the global movement to advance the rights of indigenous peoples. It also reminds us of the road we must travel to see these rights fully implemented across the globe. And to see them firmly embedded in the practice of States, UN system at large and other influential actors at both the international and national levels.
Greater efforts are needed to bridge this implementation gap. Coordination among Governments, UN Agencies and others when dealing with indigenous peoples＊ issues should be improved. Existing mechanisms for consultation with indigenous peoples should be strengthened, and new mechanisms established where they are needed.
Finally, as the UN＊s Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, and especially as Coordinator of the Second International Decade of the World＊s Indigenous People, I remain fully committed to closing the gap between the UN Declaration and its implementation.?
At this celebration of this International Day I look forward to your suggestions, for how we, the international community, can advance the overall status and rights of indigenous peoples, and protect and enhance the power of indigenous voices to be their own agents of change.
Thank you.