As we mark the third International Day for People of African Descent this year, we celebrate the extraordinary contributions of Afrodescendent women to the world – contributions that come in spite of the systemic racism that fuels violence and excludes people of African descent from services, land, housing, health care, education, work, political participation and justice. Around the world, people of African descent are speaking out and leading collective action to end racism and the injustices it perpetuates. Ending racism will take every one of us, working together to change discriminatory social norms, practices and policies, to expand participation, to transform institutions and invest in communities – and to end inaction and impunity. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #31August, #AfricanDescent, #StandUp4HumanRights, #FightRacism.
EVENTS: Through the observance of the International Day for People of African Descent 2023 on August 31st, the United Nations aims to promote the extraordinary contributions of the African diaspora around the world and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against people of African descent.
On the International Day for People of African Descent, we celebrate the achievements and the cultural, economic, political and scientific contributions of people of African descent throughout history in every area of human endeavour.
The continent of Africa and people of African descent have had an enormous impact on the development, diversity and richness of world civilizations and cultures, which constitute the common heritage of humankind.
At the same time, we acknowledge the pervasive discrimination faced by people of African descent around the world, and the many obstacles they face to realising their full human rights.
Racism, marginalization and stigmatization continue to blight our world. The legacy of centuries of enslavement and exclusion continues to reverberate in entrenched inequalities and injustices.
Recent years have seen renewed momentum for change, based on the global anti-racism movement of 2020. The recent establishment of the Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement, and the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, are a testament to the collective aspirations of people of African descent for justice and equality worldwide.
I have made anti-racism a management priority at the United Nations. Our Anti-Racism team, led by My Special Adviser, Mojankunyane Gumbi, is overseeing the implementation of our Strategic Action Plan on Addressing Racism and Promoting Dignity for All.
Today, as we mark the International Day for People of African Descent, I reiterate the call of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to use the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to announce and take prompt and robust steps to advance equality and combat racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia.
I urge States to take concrete steps, with the full participation of people of African descent and their communities, to tackle old and new forms of racial discrimination; and to dismantle entrenched structural and institutional racism.
Today and every day, we must continue to speak out against all ideas of racial superiority, and work tirelessly to free all societies from the blight of racism.
United Nations and regional human rights experts urged all States to provide effective access to justice for victims of enforced disappearance, that include any individual who has suffered harm as the direct result of an enforced disappearance. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #enforceddisappearances, #30August, #access2justice,#InternationalDayOfVictimsOfEnforcedDisappearances.
“Access to justice must not be merely theoretical, but guaranteed in practice through concrete measures that promote and fully value the genuine and meaningful participation of victims and their representatives throughout the process,” the experts said.
Ahead of the International Day of the Victims
of Enforced Disappearances, the Committee on Enforced Disappearances, the Working Group
on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the Interamerican Commission on Human Rights,
the Chairperson of the Working Group on Death Penalty, Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary
Killings of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Representatives of
Indonesia and Malaysia to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights*
urged all States to provide effective access to justice for victims of enforced disappearance,
that include any individual who has suffered harm as the direct result of an enforced
disappearance.
“As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, we invite all States to reinvigorate access to justice at the national level and to finance
and support Sustainable Development Goal 16 globally – the promotion of just, peaceful and
inclusive societies. In this context, it is key to recall that the inextricable link between justice
and truth is critical in cases of enforced disappearance.
The right of victims to access justice entails taking all the necessary steps to seek out the truth.
When a person disappears and then is located, justice requires the thorough investigation of
the enforced disappearance, and its circumstances, as well as the identification, prosecution,
and sanction of the perpetrators. When the fate or whereabouts of disappeared persons are
unknown, justice also encompasses an obligation to search for them immediately.
Ensuring adequate access to justice and, as a result, proper accountability for perpetrators at
all levels of responsibility in the chain of command, is indispensable to convey that enforced
disappearances are not permitted or tolerated. It also serves both as a preventive measure
and as a guarantee of non-repetition, and is closely intertwined with reparation, emphasized
the experts. Access to justice must not be merely theoretical, but guaranteed in practice
through concrete measures that promote and fully value the genuine and meaningful
participation of victims and their representatives throughout the process.
States must guarantee the launch of the search and investigation without delay, as soon as
authorities are informed of an alleged enforced disappearance, even in the absence of an
official complaint. To have any chance of locating disappeared persons alive, time is of the
essence. In the very few cases where justice is achieved, this too often occurs years after the
enforced disappearance began, when some relatives have already passed away, after a life of
anguish. ‘Justice delayed is justice denied’, even more so in the case of enforced
disappearances.
Likewise, access to justice must include both efforts to determine the truth and hold those
responsible for the enforced disappearance accountable, as well as addressing the harm
suffered by the victims. We urge States to guarantee victims’ effective access to justice and
ensure that their right to redress is adequately upheld.
Many relatives experience diverse and intersecting vulnerabilities which are intensified by the
disappearance of their loved one, making it harder to claim their rights. Given that in cases of
enforced disappearance most of those left behind are women, it is particularly important to
incorporate a gender perspective into any measure aimed at providing search, truth, justice,
reparation and redress to victims.
Regarding the obstacles experienced by different actors, often victims face threats,
intimidation, reprisals and stigmatisation in their struggle for truth and justice. The same
applies to organizations and lawyers acting on their behalf. This must end, and victims must
be given access to free legal aid to ensure that one’s finances are not a barrier to accessing
justice. Given that in many cases enforced disappearance may be a transnational crime,
cooperation and mutual legal assistance between States must be strengthened and
systematized, as are measures to assist victims in ensuring their access to justice in other
States.
We renew our solidarity with victims of enforced disappearances, organisations that support
them, human rights defenders and lawyers who, despite the often hostile and dangerous
environment in which they operate, continue their struggle for truth, justice, memory and
non-repetition. We call on all States to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights to make pledges to promote justice without delay for all victims of enforced
disappearances. Particularly, we call on States that have not yet done so to ratify the
international and regional instruments on enforced disappearances.
CAMPAIGN: Ensuring adequate access to justice and proper accountability for perpetrators at all levels of the chain of command is critical.
The Committee on Enforced Disappearances is one of the United Nations Treaty Bodies. It gathers 10 independent experts in charge of monitoring the implementation of the Convention for the Protection of all Persons against enforced disappearances by States parties. These experts are persons of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights, nominated by States parties to the Convention. They serve in their personal capacity and are independent and impartial. To date, the Convention has been ratified by 72 member States.
The Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
** Other human rights bodies:
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) - IACHR is a principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS) deriving its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The InterAmerican Commission has a mandate to promote respect for and to defend human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The Commission is composed of seven independent members who are elected in an individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly and who do not represent their countries of origin or residence.
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) - The African Charter established the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The Commission was inaugurated on 2 November 1987 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Commission’s Secretariat has subsequently been located in Banjul, The Gambia. In addition to performing any other tasks, which may be entrusted to it by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, the Commission is officially charged with three major functions: the protection of human and peoples' rights; the promotion of human and peoples' rights; the interpretation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) - AICHR was inaugurated by the ASEAN leaders on 23 October 2009, and was enhanced with the adoption of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) in November 2012. The AICHR is designed as an overarching institution with overall responsibility for the promotion and protection of human rights in ASEAN. The AICHR members are called Representatives, who are nominated by their respective Governments. Decision-making of the AICHR is based on consultation and consensus.
Nuclear weapons are the most dangerous weapons on earth. One can destroy a whole city, potentially killing millions, and jeopardizing the natural environment. Every effort needs to be made to ensure the entry into force of the CTBT and to preserve its place in the international architecture. In this regard, the Secretary-General appeals to all remaining States whose ratifications are required for the CTBT to enter into force to commit to sign the Treaty at an early date if they have not already done so, and to accelerate the completion of their ratification processes. It is the hope of the United Nations that one day all nuclear weapons will be eliminated. Until then, there is a need to observe International Day against Nuclear Tests as the world works towards promoting peace and security.
Since 1945, more than 2,000 nuclear tests have inflicted terrifying suffering on people, poisoned the air we breathe, and ravaged landscapes around the world.
On the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, the world speaks with one voice to end this destructive legacy.
This year, we face an alarming rise in global mistrust and division. At a time in which nearly 13,000 nuclear weapons are stockpiled around the world — and countries are working to improve their accuracy, reach and destructive power — this is a recipe for annihilation.
A legally binding prohibition on nuclear tests is a fundamental step in our quest for a world free of nuclear weapons. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, though not yet in force, remains a powerful testament to humanity’s will to lift the shadow of nuclear annihilation from our world, once and for all.
In the name of all victims of nuclear testing, I call on all countries that have not yet ratified the Treaty to do so immediately, without conditions.
"The world is cleaner and safer without nuclear weapons tests. At the CTBTO, we have amazing technology to detect any nuclear test anywhere on Earth. This has helped create a powerful norm against testing. Because today, if a nuclear weapon is tested, the world will know. And know fast."
However, nothing can play as crucial a role in avoiding a nuclear war or nuclear terrorist threat as the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Bringing an irreversible end to nuclear explosions will prevent the further development of nuclear weapons. Since the International Day against Nuclear Tests was first declared, there have been a number of significant developments, discussions and initiatives relevant to its goals and objectives as well as conferences convened to elaborate and advance these developments.
This year’s international day to Commemorate the Victims of Acts of Violence based on Religion or Belief offers the opportunity to make visible the multiple, daily and egregious violence that takes place based on religion or belief, and to seek to respond to its root causes, urgently and with far greater determination. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #22August, #Religiousviolence, #CounterViolentExtremism.
“In 2019, 22 August was designated by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, deploring the widespread violations suffered by individuals – including migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and persons belonging to minorities – who are targeted on the basis of religion or belief.
Back in 1981, it had taken some two decades for the international community to finally adopt the UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. That Declaration acknowledged the great suffering brought about by the disregard and infringement of human rights including of freedom of religion or belief. It noted that for those that profess religion or belief, this constitutes one of the fundamental elements of their conception of life and therefore also of their freedoms.
On this, the 75th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), there is a particular resonance with the 1981 Declaration’s emphasis that the use of religion or belief for ends inconsistent with the UN Charter, the UDHR and other instruments is inadmissible and condemnable (Article 3).
The international community resolved to adopt all necessary measures to speedily eliminate and combat intolerance and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, observing that this can stem from any actor whether a State, business, institution, group of persons, or person. Intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief is defined as: “Any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on religion or belief and having as its purpose or as its effect nullification or impairment of the recognition, enjoyment or exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis” (Article 2.2).
Regrettably, such impairments and violations continue to plague us from every direction in every corner of the world. 42 years on from the 1981 Declaration, this year’s international day to Commemorate the Victims of Acts of Violence based on Religion or Belief offers the opportunity to make visible the multiple, daily and egregious violence that takes place based on religion or belief, and to seek to respond to its root causes, urgently and with far greater determination.”
The Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
The eighth review resolution, adopted on 22 June 2023 (A/RES/77/298) notes the importance of upholding the rights and supporting the needs of victims of terrorism, in particular of women, children and those affected by sexual and gender-based violence committed by terrorists. It encourages all Member States to develop national comprehensive assistance plans for victims of terrorism and their families to address the immediate-, short- and long-term needs of victims of terrorism. The resolution welcomed the first United Nations Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism, held in September 2022 at United Nations Headquarters, encourages the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, through the Global Victims of Terrorism Support Programme and the United Nations Victims of Terrorism Support Portal, to continue to raise awareness on victims of terrorism and the promotion and protection of their rights. This includes strengthening the capacity of Member States to assist victims of terrorism and strengthen their engagement with relevant civil society and private sector organisations, which can play a valuable role in assisting and supporting victims of terrorism.
We come together to remember the victims and survivors of terrorism;
To stand with the families changed forever;
And to resolve to build a more peaceful future – together.
The theme of this year’s International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is: “Legacy: Finding Hope and Building a Peaceful Future.”
On this Day, we pay our respects to all those lost or harmed through terrorist attacks around the world.
We pay tribute to the extraordinary work of those victims and survivors who have resolved to use their experiences to bring about change.
And we welcome the launch of the Legacy Project, which is helping their testimonies be heard around the world.
Let us all commit to support victims and survivors, to amplify their voices, to work together to ensure that the lives taken and changed by terrorism are never forgotten. And to build a better future for us all.
The United Nations marks the sixth commemoration of the. International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 2023 on August 21st at UNHQ New York. To observe the day, the UNCCT will highlight the powerful voices of victims of terrorism throughout their experiences and journeys to create meaningful and positive change by raising awareness about the long-lasting impact of terrorism and by honouring those whose lives were lost and those whose lives were forever altered.
FORUM: “No matter what.“ World Humanitarian Day 2023. Today, 20 years on, the UNOCHA work has grown in scale and complexity to help almost 250 million people – 10 times more people than in 2003. As their efforts have grown, they face several challenges. From rising geopolitical tensions and the blatant disregard of international humanitarian law, to deliberate attacks and disinformation campaigns, our work is more difficult and dangerous than ever. Amid these trials they have grown stronger, and they became closer to the women, men and children they serve. Their ventures deep into disaster-stricken regions and closer to the front lines of conflict with no other purpose than saving and protecting lives and delivering the basics of life: food, water, shelter, education, health, nutrition and protection. To learn how aid workers come together in a collective effort to help others. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #Nomatterwho, #Nomatterwhere, #NoMatterWhat, #19 August; #WorldHumanitarianDay.
This year’s World Humanitarian Day marks the 20th anniversary of the deadly attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad.
On that dark day, we lost 22 colleagues, including Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello.
That tragedy marked a change in the way humanitarians operate.
Because today, although humanitarians are respected around the world, they may also be targeted by those who would do them harm.
This year, global humanitarian operations aim to get life-saving aid to 250 million people in 69 countries – ten times more than at the time of the Canal Hotel bombing.
Sadly, funding is far off track. As crises multiply, it is unacceptable that humanitarians are being forced to reduce aid to millions of people in need.
Other challenges have also multiplied over the past twenty years:
Rising geopolitical tensions;
A blatant disregard for international humanitarian and human rights law;
Deliberate assault and disinformation campaigns.
Humanitarianism itself is now under attack.
But these tests have made the global humanitarian community stronger.
Humanitarians – who are mostly national staff working in their own countries – are even closer to the people they serve.
They are finding new ways to venture deeper into disaster-stricken regions, and closer to the front lines of conflict, driven by a single purpose: to save and protect lives.
On this World Humanitarian Day, we salute the courage and dedication of humanitarian aid workers everywhere.
We reaffirm our full support for their determined and life-saving efforts across the world.
We celebrate their unwavering dedication to serve ALL people in need:
World Humanitarian Day is an opportunity to pay tribute to colleagues who have lost their lives in humanitarian service and to honour the thousands of aid workers who continue to provide much needed support to people suffering from conflicts or disasters across the world. As the world's humanitarian capital, Geneva plays a central role in bringing together partners to ensure an effective humanitarian response. Watch the Livetream!
Today, the world is embarking on a green transition. The shift towards an environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly world is critical not only for responding to the global climate crisis but also for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A successful transition towards a greener world will depend on the development of green skills in the population. Green skills are “knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society”. These include technical knowledge and skills that enable the effective use of green technologies and processes in occupational settings, as well as transversal skills that draw on a range of knowledge, values and attitudes to facilitate environmentally sustainable decisions in work and in life. Due to their interdisciplinary nature, the essence of green skills is sometimes expressed, partly if not wholly, through other associated terms such as “skills for the future” and “skills for green jobs”. While green skills are relevant for people of all ages, they have heightened importance for younger people, who can contribute to the green transition for a longer period of time. The Programme encourages youth around the world to organize activities to raise awareness about the situation of youth in their country. What do we know about green skills for youth?.
Every year, International Youth Day celebrates the determination, ideas and leadership of young
people as we pursue a better world.
Across all of today’s challenges, young people are calling for bold and accelerated action,
standing in solidarity with the most vulnerable, and designing solutions to ensure social,
economic and climate justice, and peace and prosperity for all. To expand their participation, I
recently launched a policy brief calling for governments to make youth participation the norm,
rather than the exception, across decisions and policies around the world.
This year’s theme reminds us of the importance of ensuring young people gain and apply skills
in the burgeoning green economy. From innovative sustainable technologies and renewable
energy, to revolutions in transportation systems and industrial activity, young people must be
equipped with skills and knowledge to shape a cleaner, greener, more climate resilient future.
Humanity depends on the boundless energy, ideas and contributions of youth everywhere. Today
and every day, let’s support and stand with young people in shaping a just and sustainable world,
for people and planet.
Date: Sat, Aug 12 2023 | International Day Location: Online, UN Headquarters, New York.
For the official commemoration of International Youth Day 2023, DESA organizes a global webinar in collaboration with the UN Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth at International Labour Organization and Generation Unlimited. The webinar offers critical information and data and will promote discussions and an exchange of ideas on green skills for youth. It features perspectives from international organizations, national governments and young experts working in this area. Knowledge products were developed to support and encourage stakeholders to celebrate International Youth Day 2023 in their various contexts and roles (see below). Please find the webinar agenda here.
The Permanent Mission of Malta to the United Nations, the Civil Society Unit, the Department of Global communications and AFS Intercultural programs welcome you to this year observance. In celebration of the United Nations International Youth Day, with the theme of Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World, this event will highlight the role of young people in coming together to amplify engagement and leadership in all areas of decision making and action, especially in creating an environmentally sustainable and climate friendly world.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED! Think about what you can do in you community and how you can effectively spread the message. Make it fun and relatable and use all your channels to spread the message. Think Facebook, Twitter, university newsletters, local newspapers.
Educational radio show. Contact popular local/national radio stations to request a slot to have a discussion with distinguished individuals and youth.
Organize a (virtual) public meeting or debate to discuss young people’s contributions to global issues.
Initiate round table discussions among adults and young people to promote intergenerational understanding.
Organize a youth forum to exchange ideas and discuss cultural backgrounds in order to help young people accept others and popularize a culture of non-violence.
Organize a (virtual) concert to promote International Youth Day and the launch of the Year. Invite your local musicians and combine it with a panel discussion or invite a politician or policy maker to hold the keynote speech.
Create an “info point” about youth-related issues in the center of town/village, at high schools, or at university centers.
Organize an exhibition. Get permission to use a public space for an arts exhibit, which showcases the challenges of young people today or how young people are contributing to development. Try to involve young people in the domains of culture, arts and music, to raise awareness on youth-related issues.
Write to your Minister of Youth to inform him or her about the challenges young people face in their daily lives and to suggest solutions. A list of Ministers of Youth can be found at www.un.org/youth.
A variety of informational material, such as the logo for the International Year of Youth, will be made available on the International Youth Day Trello board, which will be made public ahead of International Youth Day. If you would like to use the logo for your event, read the guidelines for the logo and fill out the liability waiver form, which will also be made available for download.
For those interested in organizing activities to celebrate 2023 IYD, logos in all 6 United Nations languages, both with and without the United Nations name are available here.
The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is celebrated globally on 9 August. It
marks the date anniversary of the inaugural session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982. This year’s theme "Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-determination" revindicates the role that indigenous youth must occupy in decision-making while recognizing their dedicated efforts in climate action, the search for justice for their people, and the creation of an intergenerational connection that keeps their culture, traditions, and contributions alive. The panel discussion will focus on ''Climate Action and the Green Transition''; ''Mobilizing for Justice" and "Intergenerational connections".
The theme of this year’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is youth. We celebrate young Indigenous Peoples, and their role in creating change and shaping the future.
Across the world, Indigenous Peoples face serious challenges, with their lands and resources threatened, their rights undermined, and their persistent vulnerability to marginalization and exclusion. Young Indigenous Peoples are helping to fight back.
They are leaders in the global climate action movement. They advocate justice and equality, celebrate their cultures, advance human rights and raise awareness of Indigenous history and issues around the world. And, learning from their elders, they ensure the continuity of Indigenous cultures, wisdom, and identities far into the future.
Indigenous knowledge and traditions are deeply rooted in sustainable development and can help to solve many of our common challenges. It is therefore vital that young Indigenous Peoples, both women and men, are involved in decision-making. The choices made today will determine the world of tomorrow.
So, let us reaffirm our commitment to guaranteeing the individual and collective rights of young Indigenous Peoples as well as supporting their engagement in global dialogues and decision-making. And together, build a better future for us all.
EVENTS: The Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) is organizing a virtual commemoration of the International Day on Wednesday, 9 August 2023. Indigenous Peoples, Member States, United Nations entities, civil society, and the public are all invited. The virtual commemoration will include an opening segment with a traditional ceremony,
followed by a pre-recorded statement from United Nations high level officials and a virtual statement from
the Chair of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
The interactive dialogue segment will include the participation of invited speakers and a moderator.
Speakers will share their expertise and experience from their Indigenous Peoples’ communities in
the role of Indigenous youth in exercising self-determination in the context of climate action and
the green transition; mobilizing for justice; and intergenerational connections.
In the lead-up to the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in September 2023, marking the mid-point of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and the Summit of the Future in 2024, it is important to ensure an inclusive and diverse youth engagement in multilateral fora towards transformative changes in decision-making processes
Indigenous youth as agents of change for self-determination
The right of peoples to self-determination occupies an important place in international human
rights law, and is recognized as a fundamental right in major human rights instruments (covenants),
including the United Nations Charter. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples (UN Declaration) states that Indigenous Peoples have the right to self-determination (Art.
3) and in exercising this right, they have the right to freely pursue their economic, social and
cultural development. Self-determination is fundamental and must be taken together with Articles
1 and 2 of the UN Declaration because Indigenous Peoples are subject to international human
rights law and as Peoples are equal to all other Peoples. These three articles of the UN Declaration
confirm that Indigenous Peoples, including children and youth, have the right to make their own
decisions and carry them out meaningfully and culturally appropriate to them. In other words,
Indigenous Peoples have an equal right to govern themselves, equal to all other Peoples.
Indigenous youth are playing an active role in exercising their right to self-determination, as their
future depends on the decisions that are made today. For instance, Indigenous youth are working
as agents of change at the forefront of some of the most pressing crises facing humanity today. Since colonization, Indigenous youth have been faced with ever-changing environments not only
culturally in modern societies, but in the traditional context as well. While living in two worlds is
becoming harder as the world changes, Indigenous youth are harnessing cutting-edge technologies
and developing new skills to offer solutions and contribute to a more sustainable, peaceful future
for our people and planet. Their representation and participation in global efforts towards climate
change mitigation, peacebuilding and digital cooperation are crucial for the effective
implementation of the right of Indigenous Peoples to self-determination, and to their enjoyment of
collective and individual human rights, the promotion of peaceful co-existence, and ensuring
equality of all.
Climate action and the green transition
Indigenous youth in their communities play differentiated roles and functions, from which derive
certain rights, responsibilities, abilities, and social recognition. Their roles and functions can differ
according to their cosmovision and Indigenous languages. For example, from an early age
Indigenous youth, both boys and girls, are trained by their parents, the community and nature to
participate in family activities, socialize with their peers and elders, through games, imitation and
collaborating in activities such as agriculture, shepherding, sowing, and household chores, as well
as in the way community ties are established between them. Therefore, Indigenous youth also have
an intimate relationship with the land and biodiversity.
Importantly, ways of living for Indigenous youth are changing due to evolving social, cultural,
political, and economic contexts. For example, education systems that are not culturally
appropriate and do not include or value the cultural reality of Indigenous knowledge, the misuse
of new communications technologies that stereotype Indigenous ways of life, and the expansion
of extractive and resource-exploitation companies that undermine Indigenous Peoples’ values and
societies. However, Indigenous youth have been changing this reality and becoming key players in the global
climate action movement. As the next generation, Indigenous youth are positioning Indigenous
Peoples' unique alternative solutions to climate change and issues related to the ‘green transition’,
especially where the development of many green technologies, such as mineral extraction and
hydroelectric dams, are harming Indigenous Peoples’ lands, territories, resources and rights. The
issues raised by Indigenous youth in the climate change debate can offer important insights into
climate action and sustainable resource management, and they must be afforded a seat at all levels
of decision-making table.
Mobilizing for Justice
Discrimination impacts the lives of Indigenous youth in ways that affect their self-esteem, loss of
spiritual richness, loss of language and denial of their cultural roots. Many Indigenous youth face
multiple barriers, cultural clashes, and different influences that over time, push them to acquire an
identity that is foreign to their place of origin to avoid being the object of discrimination and racism,
in extreme cases rejecting their culture, languages, and the practice of ancestral customs. In some
cases, entire generations of Indigenous youth have grown up out of their communities but have
retained a connection to their lands and territories through their families, Indigenous Peoples’
organizations or others.
Despite these challenges, there are examples of Indigenous youth participation in Indigenous
Peoples’ organizations, in urban and rural areas, and even outside national borders, who are
revitalizing and promoting their cultural identities. They are organizing diverse activities to
strengthen cultural identity, participating in assemblies, and sharing cultural spaces with
Indigenous elders, and creating a solidarity network among Indigenous youth.
The new generation of Indigenous advocates are mobilizing to shift the narrative around
Indigenous Peoples. They have become the driving force for societal change through social
mobilization, making use of online platforms to showcase and celebrate their cultures, languages,
and knowledge systems to a wider audience, and to highlight injustices within their communities.
Through their voices, Indigenous youth are sharing their stories and building solidarity among
other young people, in turn raising awareness of Indigenous Peoples’ issues, both at home and
abroad.
Intergenerational connections
As they find their place in society, identity is fundamental for Indigenous youth. Individual and
collective identity is also attached to the land, language, traditional livelihoods, ceremonies, arts,
crafts, and family members and society as a whole. Identity is transferred through family ties: the
transmission of the history of the land and the transfer of knowledge. Consequently, it is important
to have an intergenerational dialogue between youth and elders, because youth represent
continuity along the path already walked by their ancestors.
As the keepers of traditional and scientific knowledge, Indigenous elders hold the key to
Indigenous Peoples’ cultures, values and cosmovision. Indigenous elders teach Indigenous youth
and children the importance of family, community, nature and their responsibilities within these
structures. Therefore, the connection between the generations is a crucial aspect of Indigenous
Peoples’ wellbeing, as it facilitates the transfer of Indigenous knowledge and fosters strong bonds
between generations. As the future custodians of the planet, Indigenous youth have a wealth of
resources and expertise right at their fingertips, simply by connecting with the teachings of their
grandparents, who also have learned from their ancestors.
Finally, there is a need to strengthen intergenerational dialogue as well as the dialogue between
Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Peoples, so that future relationships will be positive for
many generations to come.
