Why 476 million indigenous people are in focus on 9 August

9 August 2026 13:23 (UTC+04:00)AzerNEWS Staff Read moreThe International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed annually on 9 August. In 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In 2019, the UN General Assembly declared the year the International Year of Indigenous Languages, highlighting the urgent need to preserve, revitalise and promote indigenous languages. The International Decade of Indigenous Languages began in 2022, with the aim of strengthening efforts to protect indigenous languages and empowering their speakers. The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples seeks to raise global awareness of indigenous peoples’ rights, cultures and languages and to mobilise international efforts to address the social and economic challenges they continue to face.