INDIGENOUS PEOPLE - United Nations Postal Administration - ONU

INDIGENOUS PEOPLEOn 8 October 2009, the UnitedNations Postal Administration will issue 18commemorative stamps in a mini-sheetformat of six stamps each on the theme“Indigenous People”.Indigenous people are the inheritorsand practitioners of unique cultures andways of relating to other people and tothe environment. Indigenous people haveretained social, cultural, economic andpolitical characteristics that are distinctfrom those of the dominant societies inwhich they live. Despite their culturaldifferences, the various groups of indigenouspeople around the world sharecommon problems related to the protectionof their rights as distinct peoples.Estimates point to more than 370 millionindigenous people in some 90countries worldwide. While they are fromdiverse geographical and cultural backgrounds,they share such challenges as lackof basic health care, limited access toeducation, loss of control over land,discrimination, forced assimilation, abjectpoverty, displacement, human rights violations,and economic and social marginalization.Indigenous people around the worldhave sought recognition of their identities,their ways of life and their right to traditionallands, territories and natural resources;yet, throughout history, their rightshave been violated. Indigenous people arearguably among the most disadvantagedand vulnerable groups of people in theworld today. The international communitynow recognizes that special measures arerequired to protect the rights of theworld’s indigenous people.The landmark United Nations Declarationon the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,drafted and debated for more than 20years, was adopted by the United NationsGeneral Assembly in September 2007.The Declaration is the most comprehensivestatement of the rights of indigenouspeoples ever developed, giving prominenceto collective rights to a degreeunprecedented in international humanrights law. It emphasizes the rights of indigenouspeoples to live in dignity, to maintainand strengthen their own institutions,cultures and traditions and to pursue theirself-determined development, in keepingwith their needs and aspirations. Theadoption of this Declaration is the clearestindication yet that the internationalcommunity is committing itself to theprotection of the individual and collectiverights of indigenous peoples.Stamp specificationsThe stamps, in denominations of 44 cents,F.s. 1,30 and € 0,65, measure 30 mmhorizontally by 40 mm vertically, perforationto perforation. Perforation size: 13.The vertical mini-sheets of six stampshave one marginal inscription in the centreof the bottom margin. The marginal inscriptionconsists of the United Nationsemblem with the text “United” above the6