Actress Q’Orianka Kilcher speaks up, speaks out for indigenous peoples’ rights

On 9 August 2013 we mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Actress and indigenous rights activist, Q’Orianka Kilcher, best known for her role as Pocahontas in the 2005 film The New World, has teamed up with the ILO to speak up for the right of indigenous peoples across the world to live and work in dignity.

Across the world, there are 370 million indigenous women, men, girls and boys. Many live in poverty, face discrimination and struggle to make their voices heard. On this day, we celebrate the many achievements of indigenous peoples over the years. This is a great opportunity to look at the progress we have made, but also to think about what we still need to do.

This year’s theme, “Indigenous peoples building alliances: Honouring treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements,” gives us a chance to look back at these achievements and the ILO’s unique and long experience in creating alliances and partnerships to advance indigenous peoples’ rights.


“25 years ago, the ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention was a trail-blazer. It is still the only legally-binding international instrument that enables indigenous and tribal women and men to make decisions about their own priorities for development. So far only 22 countries have ratified this important convention. We can do better!” Q’Orianka Kilcher

Join the cause – speak up, speak out with Q’Orianka and the ILO and show your support for indigenous and tribal peoples everywhere!

GET INFORMED: Learn the facts about indigenous peoples.

Check out our topic portal on indigenous and tribal peoples.

Get to know more and join the discussion with Q’Orianka Kilcher and other indigenous experts at a Huffington Post Live interview session on Friday 9 August (5 pm PST).

SPREAD THE WORD:
Help us raise awareness about the situation of indigenous peoples by tweeting the below tweets using the hashtag#RatifyConvention169.

RAISE YOUR VOICE:Show your support by sharing Q’Orianka’s statement with your friends, colleagues and family members.

Copy and paste our tweets and widgets below on Facebook and Twitter. RatifyConvention169!

Today is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples: #RatifyConvention169!  http://ow.ly/nK63B

There are 370 million indigenous peoples across the world. Celebrate this International Day:  #RatifyConvention169! http://ow.ly/nK63B

Indigenous peoples continue to face discrimination and exclusion. Let’s honour our agreements #RatifyConvention169! http://ow.ly/nK63B

Next year the ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention marks its 25^th anniversary, #RatifyConvention169! http://ow.ly/nK63B

ILO Convention No. 169 is the only legally binding instrument for indigenous peoples’ rights, #RatifyConvention169! http://ow.ly/nK63B

All women and men – indigenous or not – deserve to live and work in dignity, #RatifyConvention169!http://ow.ly/nK63B

Join indigenous girls, adolescents and young women in the fight against violence #RatifyConvention169!http://ow.ly/nK63B