‘The voices of indigenous peoples must be heard’

The power of utilizing independent, indigenous-led media was the buzz at this year’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, an event celebrated formally at the United Nations’ New York Headquarters, but also in various celebratory and commemorative forms around the world.

“The voices of indigenous peoples must be heard,” UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova said at the event. Media coverage and exposure could help indigenous communities defend their rights and fight discrimination, Bokova added.

In Malaysia, the Indigenous People’s Network of Malaysia, or Joas, is taking a cue from the U.N. theme and incorporating workshops on media into its three-day celebration. In Bolivia, indigenous communities were set to celebrate with ritual celebrations and the opening of a photo exhibition in La Paz.

In the Philippines, representatives from native Lumad groups marked the occasion by speaking out about their risks for displacement as a result of encroaching mining development projects.

In a report published ahead of the event, Amnesty International reflected on the persistent trend of similar development projects like hydroelectric dams, pipelines and motorways placing indigenous communities’ survival at risk across the Americas.

The U.N. General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007. In May 2012, the ECOSOC Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues published a report that said, “Few States have entered into effective dialogue or partnerships with indigenous peoples or have undertaken adequate legal reforms to implement the declaration.”

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