Actress Q'orianka Kilcher Speaks Up, Speaks out for Indigenous Peoples' Rights

Hello, I'm Q'orianka Kilcher and I am proud to be joining the ILO - the UN agency for the world of work - to celebrate an important day for me, you and for everyone! The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. This is a great opportunity to mark the progress we have made, but also to think about what we still need to do. Across the world, there are 370 million indigenous women, men and children. Many of them live in poverty, face discrimination and struggle to make their voices heard. This year we're focusing on the importance of building alliances and of honouring indigenous peoples' treaties and agreements. The ILO is host to one of the most important alliances for indigenous peoples, the United Nations' Indigenous Peoples' Partnership. Members of the UN family have come together in this alliance to work hard for the rights of indigenous peoples. In fact, 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 take part in making decisions about their own priorities for development. So far only 22 countries have ratified this important convention. We can do better! Let's work together so that all people -- indigenous or not -- can live and work in dignity. Let's tell our government leaders to ratify the international convention on Indigenous Peoples! To find out how you can get involved, go to www.ilo.org/artworks