KUCHING: Sarawak is set to host the 2024 National Level Indigenous Peoples Day.
The event, organised by Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS), will take place at the Reedem Centre in Tondong, Bau, on Aug 9, coinciding with the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
The United Nations General Assembly designated this day in 1994 to promote and protect the rights of the world’s indigenous populations and to honour their contributions to global society.
This year’s celebration in Sarawak follows last year’s event in Sabah, with Semenanjung Malaysia set to host next year’s festivities.
The event is expected to draw 200 participants from across the country, reflecting the broad engagement and solidarity within Malaysia’s indigenous communities.
The Sarawak event will feature a series of seminars and discussions on key issues affecting indigenous peoples, including, legal frameworks and protection for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, cultural preservation and the transmission of traditional knowledge, sustainable development and environmental stewardship in Indigenous Peoples’ territories, lands, and resources and health and education access for isolated indigenous communities
JOAS, comprising 118 Malaysian NGOs and affiliated with the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), continues to champion the rights of indigenous peoples.
The organisation addresses critical issues such as land rights, cultural preservation, and access to essential services.
