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Photo from Ukrinform
The United States’ embassy in Kyiv paid tribute to the indigenous people of Ukraine.
“In honor of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we pay tribute to Ukraine’s indigenous people. Those include Crimean Tatars, Crimean Karaim, and Krymchaks. We celebrate their contribution to Ukraine’s rich culture and diversity. Crimea is Ukraine,” the embassy posted on Facebook.
This year, Ukraine will celebrate the day at the official level for the second time.
The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is marked annually on Aug. 9. It was first marked by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1994.
The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the U.N. on Sept.13, 2007. Back then, 144 states voted in favor of the declaration, four voted against it, and 11 abstained. Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States had voted against the declaration.
Since then, the four countries voting against have reversed their positions and now support the declaration. Today, the declaration is the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of indigenous peoples. It establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the indigenous peoples of the world, and it elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms as they apply to the specific situation of indigenous peoples.
