The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is annually organized in 09 August which preceding organized since 1994 until now. In 2017, there are estimate 370 million indigenous peoples in the world, living across 90 countries to celebrate and organize the 23rd of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, under the theme: “10th Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”.
Thus, the CSOs, Minority groups, Indigenous Peoples and Forestry Network (IPFN) of the NGO Forum on Cambodia co-organized with Ministry of Rural Development to celebrate the 23rd of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on 09 August 2017 at old stadium, Kampong Thom Province. There were 1,100 participants who were from representative of Indigenous People from 15 provinces/cities, local authority, civil society organizations, students, and representative of OHCHR and media.
In this regard, we are indigenous people (IP) and civil society would request all relevant stakeholders, especially, government and line ministries to support and more active engage with indigenous people living in different area/province of Cambodia. The indigenous people and civil society would request for:
1. Accelerate the registration communal land title more possible which based on the plan and commitment of Ministry of Rural Development in term of timely issues letter on the recognition of 124 IP communities and Ministry of interior recognition of 111 IP communities.
2. Ministry of Rural Development forming technical working group for inter-ministries for Indigenous People Affaire which based on last meeting action point between Ministry of Rural Development and CSOs, and
3. Increase national budget distribution in local community to build indigenous people museum in any provinces that not yet have.