UN Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues (IASG)

Place: Geneva, Switzerland
Date: 16–17 September 2010

WHO is hosting the annual meeting of the UN Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues (IASG). This year’s meeting will focus on the health of indigenous people. The meeting will discuss work carried out in this area to date, with a view to sharing best practices and fostering collaboration between UN organizations and other IASG members.

The IASG was established in 2002 to support and promote the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), which focuses on indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights. It constitutes an important arena for international cooperation and dialogue on indigenous peoples’ issues.

There are an estimated 370 million indigenous peoples living in more than 70 countries worldwide. They represent a rich diversity of cultures, religions, traditions, languages and histories; yet continue to be among the world’s most marginalized population groups. The health status of indigenous peoples varies significantly from that of non-indigenous population groups in countries all over the world.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/meetings/2010/iasg/en/index.html

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/