By resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994, the United Nations General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples shall be observed on 9 August every year. The date marks the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982.

This year’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples will be commemorated on Wednesday, 9 August at UNHQ in New York from 3.00pm to 6.00pm in the ECOSOC Chamber.

This year is of particular importance, as it is the Tenth Anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and at the same time the theme of the event. A backgrounder on the tenth anniversary of the UNDRIP is now available in English, French, Spanish, and Russian. 

The commemoration will be divided into two parts:

1. A high-level segment that will include interventions from UN officials and the Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
2. A panel discussion on the successes and challenges faced in the implementation of the UNDRIP over the past decade. The panel will include the participation of guest panelists ranging from government representatives to indigenous experts from the different regions of the world. More information can be found at the International Day dedicated website.

For more information on the tentative programme, background documents and registration, click here.