MOSCOW, September 21 (RIA Novosti) - The first United Nations (UN) World Conference on Indigenous Peoples will be held on September 22 to 23, 2014, aimed at giving an opportunity to share perspectives and best practices on the realization of the rights of indigenous peoples.
The meeting will include pursuing the objectives of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and will take place in the General Assembly Hall at the UN Headquarters in New York.
The decision to create the conference was made by the UN resolution on indigenous issues adopted by the General Assembly on 21 December, 2010 which was followed by a resolution on the rights of indigenous people adopted in 2011.
"Indigenous peoples represent remarkable diversity – more than 5,000 distinct groups in some 90 countries. They make up more than 5 per cent of the world's population, some 370 million people. Yet, they are among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable," the UN stated in the event announcement.
Among the key concerns of the conference is the struggle by Indigenous people to keep their native land as their home and the natural resources available in their land.
Speakers at the conference include member states, observers, UN entities, NGO's, Indigenous organizations and specialized agencies.
Opening remarks will be made by Sam Kutesa, President of the General Assembly and Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, among others.
The meetings will be co-chaired by Representatives from all regions: Pacific, African and Asian Indigenous Regions as well as Eastern and Western European, Latin American and Caribbean Groups.
