by Jorge Rojas-Ruiz, Humanitas Global
There are more than 370 million self-identified indigenous people throughout the globe, occupying about 20% of the world’s territory. Indigenous people constitute 5% of the world’s population, but represent about 15% of the world’s poor.
Throughout time they have been socially and economically excluded, and encountered hurdles in their fight for human rights, such as equal access to economic opportunities. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2005-2015 the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People themed, "A Decade for Action and Dignity." In response, Friday, August 9th, the global community celebrates the 19th annual International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.
“The first half of the Second Decade has brought significant results with regard to the goal of further strengthening of international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous peoples in areas such as culture, education, health, human rights, the environment and social and economic development” stated the midterm assessment reported by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Progress has been evidenced in the area of advocacy for indigenous people’s rights, and there has been a multi-sectoral response from the private and public sectors.
However, greater efforts to promote growth and development in indigenous communities throughout the world are necessary in order to meet the Second Decade goals. Indigenous people suffer disproportionally higher rates of poverty and have inferior access to education and health care services than other members of society. Consequently, they have a disadvantage that hinders their ability to climb the poverty ladder in order to improve their livelihood and that of their future generations.
A partnership between the public and private sector is essential for creating a pathway that provides economic opportunities for indigenous people. Facilitating access to credit and investing in infrastructure, education and healthcare is a strategy that will foster the human capital necessary to give indigenous communities an opportunity to enter the market economy and therefore a path towards development and growth.
For example, Bolivian quinoa producers benefited from an increase in global demand of their product and greater access to resources and infrastructure. The latter led to a boost in quinoa production which increased disposable income of indigenous quinoa producing communities. Community members were now able to access goods and services such as higher education that were otherwise inaccessible to them.
Once indigenous people are provided the opportunity to enter the market economy, an increase in their disposable income also becomes an increase in local consumption, which results in a stimulus for the regional economy.
Today we celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous people by making a call to action. Opening up markets while assisting indigenous’ capacity to adapt and awarding them the right to meaningful participation in decision-making processes regarding their environment, land and access to resources, are two concrete pathways that will help towards empowering indigenous populations. Working towards economic empowerment of indigenous communities will not only help us meet the Second Decade goals, but it will also support global efforts to address the most pressing development challenges that the international community is working tirelessly to overcome.
