Thousands gather as annual indigenous forum kicks off at UN Headquarters
UN News Centre – 21 April 2008
NEW YORK, USA: The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues meets at “a historic crossroads,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the opening session today as some 3,300 participants from around the world converged on UN Headquarters in New York for the two-week event. Climate change is the special theme of this year’s session of the Forum, a choice applauded by the Secretary-General.
Indigenous peoples live in many of the world’s most biologically diverse areas. As custodians of these lands, they have accumulated deep, first-hand knowledge about the impacts of environmental degradation, including climate change. They know the economic and social consequences, and they can and should play a role in the global response. – Ban Ki-moon
Mr. Ban also welcomed the focus this session on several other issues and challenges, including the Pacific region and the need to protect and promote indigenous languages. “Indigenous languages represent an overwhelming majority of all languages spoken today, with most facing the threat of extinction.”
