Adding indigenous issues to UN agenda 'essential' - Annan

With native peoples continuing to suffer from systemic discrimination and exclusion from economic and political power, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called for the urgent inclusion of indigenous issues as part of the daily work of the United Nations.

"There is no time to lose in this effort," as indigenous peoples "are denied their cultural identities, and displaced from their traditional lands," the Secretary-General said in a message delivered on his behalf by Assistant Secretary-General Angela King to the opening of the Second Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. "They are more likely than others to suffer extreme poverty, and all too often experience the human misery caused by conflict."

Some 500 groups are attending the two-week Forum, which aims to focus attention on educating indigenous children in their language and values as key to the preservation of their peoples' unique culture in this age of globalisation.

"We must acknowledge the contributions of indigenous peoples not only in areas such as environmental protection, where those contributions are well established and widely known, but also in other vital areas on the international agenda," he stressed.

The Secretary-General said information was vital in getting a clear picture of the situation of indigenous peoples and that he fully supported efforts to build capacity in this area. In addition, Mr Annan said legal standards, including through progress on the draft declaration on indigenous rights, were essential.

The Forum - which had its first session last year - advises and makes recommendations to the Economic and Social Council on social development, economic, cultural, human rights, environmental, education and health issues.