International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is an international day celebrated annually on August 9 to promote the rights, cultures, and social contributions of indigenous peoples and to draw attention to the problems they face. Adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in its resolution 49/214 of December 23, 1994, this day commemorates the anniversary of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations, held in Geneva in 1982.

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History

The UN has undertaken various initiatives to protect the rights of indigenous peoples. In 1990, the General Assembly declared 1993 the “International Year of Indigenous Peoples.” This was followed by two “International Decades of Indigenous Peoples” covering the periods 1995–2004 and 2005–2014. The purpose of these decades was to strengthen international cooperation in addressing the problems faced by indigenous peoples in the areas of human rights, the environment, education, health, development, and cultural preservation.

Following the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples held in 2014, the “UN System-wide Action Plan on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” was prepared in 2015 to ensure a coordinated approach among UN agencies to protect the rights of indigenous peoples. This plan aims to strengthen cooperation between member states and indigenous communities in order to achieve the goals of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The year 2019 was declared the “International Year of Indigenous Languages” with the aim of preserving the languages and cultures of indigenous communities. As a continuation of this initiative, the period 2022–2032 has been designated as the “Decade of Indigenous Languages,” establishing a global framework for the preservation of indigenous languages.

Scope and Global Situation

Throughout history, indigenous peoples have maintained their unique social, economic, cultural, and political characteristics, preserving their distinct identities from the dominant cultures of the societies in which they live. However, for many years, they have faced various violations regarding the recognition of their identities and the protection of their rights to their traditional lands and natural resources. Today, indigenous communities remain among the most socially, economically, and environmentally vulnerable groups.

UNESCO's Role

UNESCO celebrates World Indigenous Peoples Day each year by sharing its projects and activities with the public within the framework of a designated theme. The theme for 2025 is “Indigenous Peoples and Artificial Intelligence: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures.” This theme addresses the impacts, opportunities, and risks of artificial intelligence and digital technologies on indigenous peoples.

With its “Recommendation on Ethical Principles of Artificial Intelligence” adopted in 2021, UNESCO aims to ensure the participation of indigenous communities in these areas, protect data sovereignty, and guarantee fair representation.

Artificial intelligence offers new opportunities for indigenous communities to transmit their languages, traditional knowledge, and cultural heritage. However, technologies developed without regard for ethical principles can lead to problems such as digital exclusion, data exploitation, and linguistic degradation. With its “Recommendation on Ethical Principles of Artificial Intelligence” adopted in 2021, UNESCO aims to ensure the participation of indigenous communities in these areas, protect data sovereignty, and guarantee fair representation.

UNESCO and Collaboration with Indigenous Communities

Indigenous peoples are among the guardians of the world's most biologically diverse and culturally significant regions. UNESCO collaborates with indigenous communities in the management of World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves, and Global Geoparks.

For example, in Tanzania, indigenous scouts convert their traditional knowledge into wildlife data, while pastoral communities in Chad combine artificial intelligence-supported weather forecasting systems with traditional knowledge. These are among the practices supported in this context. UNESCO also brings together language experts, policymakers, and young people in Bangladesh to encourage solutions to digital exclusion, language loss, and resource shortages. These efforts are carried out within the framework of the Decade of Indigenous Languages and aim to protect the languages and cultural identities of indigenous peoples in the digital age.