The International Labour Organisation is reflecting on the social justice prospects of indigenous communities today, as the world marks International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
This year's focus is Indigenous Media, Empowering Indigenous Voices. The theme aims to highlight the importance of indigenous media in challenging stereotypes, forging indigenous peoples' identities, communicating with the outside world, and influencing the social and political agenda. A special event at the UN Headquarters in New York will feature speakers and videos of indigenous media organizations.
While there may be cause for celebration, a prominent aboriginal rights advocate has told the ILO that much more work is needed to improve access to decent employment opportunities for the world’s 370 million indigenous people.
In an interview with ILO News, the Chairperson of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous People said there has been some progress in employment prospects and skills developments, especially in developed countries. While encouraging, Chief Wilton Littlechild reminded that those overall national achievements should not be allowed to mask trouble-spots on a regional level. He also acknowledged the inherent socioeconomic and geographic challenges that can lead to physical or social isolation.
"Promoting decent work among our communities is not an easy task, especially since indigenous people live in very different situations, sometimes in remote rural areas or, on the contrary, in big cities.”
Chief Littlechild, a Cree community leader from Canada, urged for better implementation of the ILO's Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. He strongly believes that combatting ethnic discrimination in areas of work and social justice will not only empower indigenous communities with valuable skills and production systems, but will in turn benefit national and global economies.
Read more - ILO article | UN press release
