Indigenous People Suffer More, UN Report

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By Tayo Adelaja

Published: January 18, 2010

Indigenous People Suffer More, UN Report

Tayo Adelaja

Global rates of poverty, health problems, crime and human rights abuses are disproportionately far higher among indigenous people, the United Nations has found. The UN’s first study of the state of the world’s 370 million indigenous people was published yesterday. It reveals that the life expectancy of indigenous people is up to 20 years lower than the life expectancy of non-natives in some countries. Poor nutrition, limited access to care, lack of resources crucial to maintaining health and well-being and contamination of natural resources are the main factors that affect the health of indigenous people. Indigenous people make up only five per cent of the world’s population, but represent around one third of the world’s 900 million extremely poor rural people. The report states that self-determination and land rights are vital for the survival of indigenous people.

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