The world celebrates the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on 9 August.

The theme for 2021 is “Leaving no one behind: Indigenous peoples and the call for a new social contract”.

This year, a virtual event is being organized by the Indigenous Peoples and Development Branch of the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

Indigenous peoples, Member States, UN entities, civil society, and the public are all invited.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

There are over 476 million indigenous peoples living in 90 countries across the world.

Accounting for some 6 per cent of the global population, they are disproportionately affected by poverty, poor health, discrimination, lack of access to healthcare and justice, and financial insecurity.

Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions and reducing inequality are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The whole of society — not only Member States but also civil society, indigenous peoples, women, academia, scientists — all have a role to play in building and redesigning a new social contract that serves the interests of “We, the peoples”, as per the preamble of the United Nations Charter.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated existing inequalities, prompting the Secretary-General to call for the UN system to support the rewriting of a social contract – the unwritten set of rules by which all members of a society live and interact with each other, as part of COVID-19 recovery efforts.

The pandemic has hit indigenous communities hard. The inclusion of indigenous peoples in social contracts, from which they were originally excluded, is key.

Virtual Event 

On 9 August, expert speakers will explore the elements to be considered when designing a new social contract that is inclusive of indigenous peoples.

A social contract in which indigenous peoples’ own forms of governance and ways of life must be respected. One that is based on their free, prior and informed consent. One that is based on genuine and inclusive participation and partnership.

Further information