By resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994, the United Nations General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples shall be observed on 9 August every year. The date marks the day of the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

In 1990, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 1993 the International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (A/RES/45/164 A/RES/47/75). Later, the General Assembly established two International Decades of the World’s Indigenous Peoples: the first 1995 – 2004 (resolution 48/163), and the second 2005 – 2014 (resolution 59/174), with the goal of strengthening international cooperation for solving problems faced by indigenous peoples in areas such as human rights, the environment, development, education, health, economic and social development.

As requested in the outcome document of the 2014 World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, a UN System-Wide Action Plan on the rights of indigenous peoples was developed by the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Issues in 2015, in consultations with indigenous peoples, UN Members States, UN agencies and other stakeholders. It aims to ensure a coherent approach to achieving the ends of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including through improved support to Member States and indigenous peoples.

2016: “Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Education”
2015: “Post 2015 Agenda: Ensuring indigenous peoples’ health and well-being”
2014: “Bridging the gap: implementing the rights of indigenous peoples”
2013: Indigenous peoples building alliances: Honouring treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements
2012: Indigenous Media, Empowering Indigenous Voices
2011: Indigenous designs: celebrating stories and cultures, crafting their own future
2010: Celebrating Indigenous Film Making
2009: Indigenous Peoples and HIV/AIDS
2008: Reconciliation between States and indigenous peoples
2007: Urgent need to preserve indigenous languages
2006: Indigenous Peoples: human rights, dignity and development with identity
2005: The Cause of Indigenous Peoples is Ours