DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF UNOG ADDRESSES CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WORLD'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

24 July 2003






Sergei Ordzhonikidze, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, today delivered the opening address at the annual celebration at the Palais des Nations of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.

The United Nations General Assembly has designated 9 August as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. Every year the United Nations Office at Geneva marks the day in the final week of July to coincide with the annual session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations.

The Director-General highlighted how the 10th anniversary of the International Year of the World’s Indigenous People in 1993 presented an opportunity for taking stock of achievements and future challenges. ‘As the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People draws to a close in 2004, it is indeed critical that we do not lose momentum, but build on recent advances,’ he said. Mr. Ordzhonikidze emphasized the importance of inclusive partnerships between governmental institutions, multilateral organizations and indigenous associations to address the particular challenges facing indigenous peoples. ‘We need to ensure that the motto of the Decade – partnership in action – becomes more than a catch phrase’, he said.