Today is "International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2021"
This year's theme is “Leaving no one behind: Indigenous peoples and the call for a new social contract.”
On 23 December 1994, the United Nations General Assembly decided, in its resolution 49/214, that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People shall be observed on 9 August every year. The date marks the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations.
The World Health Organization defines indigenous populations as follows: "communities that live within, or are attached to, geographically distinct traditional habitats or ancestral territories, and who identify themselves as being part of a distinct cultural group, descended from groups present in the area before modern states were created and current borders defined. They generally maintain cultural and social identities, and social, economic, cultural and political institutions, separate from the mainstream or dominant society or culture."
The United Nations estimates that there are over 370 million indigenous people living in over 70 countries worldwide.This would equate to just fewer than 6% of the total world population.
Every year, the indigenous people in all over the world celebrate this day with full hope and expectation.
About 50 indigenous communities live in Bangladesh together who have their own language, literature and culture. But Now-a days, their language and culture are on the verge of extinction due to the aggression of modernity. Indigenous people are the citizens like the mainstream people and resources of the country. Everyone has a responsibility to protect their language, culture and heritage.
We demand that all the indigenous children from Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Bangladesh have equal access to digital education during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
We demand to stop illegal extraction of natural resources from CHT.
We demand justice for all the indigenous sisters who have been victims of gender based violence.
We demand meaningful inclusion of traditional institutions and leaders (Raja/ Circle Chiefs, Headmen and Karbari) in the policy making process as well as strong political representation of indigenous people from CHT.
We demand equitable access and distribution of healthcare facilities among the indigenous population across CHT.
We believe that if all the stakeholders (the Govt, Circle chief's offices, nonprofits and civil society organizations will work together, we can assure social , political and economic benefits of CHT indigenous people.
Cinematography and Edit: Sing Mong Prue
© All Rights Reserved by TONGSA | 2021
