Kathmandu, Aug 9  : The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is being observed today by organizing several programmes.    

The day is being marked across the country today by organizing diverse activities with this year's slogan 'Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self Determination'.   

According to the National Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), this year special emphasis has been laid on youth's activism and empowerment. 

On the occasion, the Indigenous Commission has organized a programme at Baneswor today.  

Likewise, NEFIN has also hoisted a programme in the Nepal Academy this afternoon.   

In order to raise awareness of the needs of the indigenous population, every 9 August commemorates the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, chosen in recognition of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations held in Geneva in 1982.    

On 23 December 1994, the United Nations General Assembly decided, in its resolution 49/214, that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People shall be observed on 9 August every year.    

The UN had observed the period (1994-2004) as an indigenous decade with the slogan 'the decade for action and dignity'.  

Also on the occasion, Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Journalists (FONIJ) has hosted a programme in Kathmandu today.