United Nations, August 11: The UN Monday observed the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People with a focus on the threat from HIV/AIDS.
In a message to mark the day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon emphasised the vulnerability of indigenous peoples to HIV/ AIDS. “It is essential that indigenous peoples have access to the information and infrastructure necessary for detection, treatment and protection,” he noted.
The event was organised by the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in cooperation with the NGO Committee on the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
“Indigenous peoples are more likely to suffer from extreme poverty, geographical isolation, political marginalisation, lack of access to adequate health care,” Under Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Sha Zukang told UN officials and indigenous representatives attending the event in New York.
“All of these factors influence the manner of which the HIV/ AIDS manifests itself among indigenous peoples,” Sha said.
He urged member states and the international community “not to let the pandemic of HIV/AIDS be yet another area of exclusion and marginalisation suffered by the world’s indigenous peoples”.
–IANS–