UNITED NATIONS: The first World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (WCIP) marks the opening of the UN General Assembly’s annual general debate on Monday.

The two-day conference is expected to draw over a thousand indigenous and non-indigenous delegates who will have the opportunity to share perspectives and best practices on the realisation of their rights, including pursuing the objectives of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the General Assembly in 2007.

Indigenous people represent remarkable diversity – more than 5,000 distinct groups in some 90 countries, making up more than 5 per cent of the world’s population, some 370 million people. These people continue to self-identify as distinct peoples with strong links to traditional territories with their own social, economic and political systems as well as unique languages, cultures and beliefs.

The World Conference is expected to result in a concise, action-oriented outcome document on the implementation of the rights of indigenous people and promotion of the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, prepared by the president of the General Assembly on the basis of inclusive and open consultations with member states and indigenous people.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2014