Kathmandu, August 9: The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, is being observed today. 18th World’s Indigenous People day is organised this year under the theme “Indigenous Media, Empowering Indigenous Voices”.

Issuing a statement on the occasion, President Ram Baran Yadav extended his best wishes to all indigenous nationalities (Janajatis), expressing belief that the day will contribute towards bolstering national integrity and help the country develop as “multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual”.

A cultural rally is being organized in the Capital today to mark this day under the plan of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities. The rally will start from Bhrikutimandap to pass through various parts of Kathmandu, and will return to Bhrikutimandap.

The celebration is also expected to exert pressure on political parties to ensure ethnicity-based federalism in the new constitution yet to be promulgated. Participants of the program will also demonstrate various costumes and cultural performances that reflect different ethnic groups´ culture living across the country.

Activists belonging to indigenous nationalities (janajatis)  are set to announce a new political outfit today.

Meanwhile, the UNESCO Nepal Office issues a statement on the occasion, saying that the the day will highlight the role of media in supporting indigenous peoples’ models of development that are in accordance with their own priorities, cultures and knowledge systems.

Special attention needs to be given to issues like mother tongue content, access to ICT and inclusion of indigenous journalists, both women and men, in mainstream media, UNESCO said.

Indigenous media “ is especially important for indigenous women, whose voices are shunted aside, and who are making already a significant contribution to local human development. The media can help educate and inform. They can include and bolster voices”, said Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO in her message on the occasion of the Day.