United Nations, Aug 10 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the amplifying of the voices of indigenous women and emphasizing their contribution in the preservation and transmission of the traditional knowledge. “Indigenous women are knowledge keepers of traditional foods and medicines.
They are the champions of indigenous languages and traditions,” he said on Tuesday in video messages to commemorate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples which is observed on Tuesday.
The UN chief pointed out the fact that indigenous women are also the defenders of the environment as well as indigenous peoples’ rights to human rights, Xinhua news agency reported.
Indigenous knowledge can provide solutions to many of the world’s problems According to Guterres when he recalled his recent trip to Suriname where he saw firsthand what indigenous communities are doing to preserving their forests and their abundant biodiversity.
“To create an equitable and sustainable society that doesn’t leave anyone behind, we need to increase the voices of indigenous women,” he added.
Guterres demanded members states to take action to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, and to promote indigenous knowledge to the benefit of all.
The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is celebrated every year on the 9th of August in celebration of the very first gathering of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations that was held in 1982.
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