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After significant scrutiny over World Bank Operative Policy 4.10 regarding Indigenous Peoples, we, Cultural Survival, would like to express our concern that these policies do not sufficiently protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples. To allow this policy to remain unchanged would undermine decades of tireless efforts to promote the rights of Indigenous Peoples. These policies fall far under the standards that one should expect from illustrious international organizations, particularly those whose goals are to promote human rights and development.

Indigenous Peoples represent remarkable diversity – more than 5,000 distinct groups in some 90 countries, making up more than 5 per cent of the world’s population, some 370 million people. These peoples continue to self-identify as distinct peoples with strong links to traditional territories with their own social, economic and political systems as well as unique languages, cultures and beliefs.

By Madeline McGill

September 22, 2014 marked an important day for Indigenous communities everywhere. It was the first of a two-day gathering of the General Assembly at the United Nations in NYC, the first-ever World Conference of Indigenous Peoples.

Throughout the day, over 1,000 Indigenous delegates gathered with Government and UN officials, national human rights institutions, and various heads of state to discuss the best methods to approach and solve issues pressing Indigenous Peoples.

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