The United Nations today launched its first report on the state of the world’s indigenous people, with the Chair of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, saying it offered a “daring and bold” description of the situation of indigenous persons in health, poverty, education and human rights, and should be fed into the upcoming review of the Millennium Development Goals.

Addressing journalists at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon, Ms.Tauli-Corpuz said the lack of disaggregated data on indigenous people often meant that goals set by Governments to tackle poverty and other social ills did not address the particular situation of indigenous persons.

Twelve years ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 54/134 designating 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW); November 25 is also the commencement of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence that culminates with the International Human Rights Day on December 10. The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence highlights the links between women, violence and human rights. On this of the IDEVAW and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, the Asian Indigenous Women’s Network gives tribute to the women worldwide who have sacrificed their comforts, even their lives, towards the realization of equality, justice, peace and rights by women. We specially make tribute to our indigenous sisters before us, elders and leaders who continuously inspire us to carry on the struggle of our communities and peoples amidst the prevailing culture of state aggression and impunity;