Indigenous children and youth
Indigenous children and youth are particularly vulnerable to human rights violations, as they often find themselves caught between their indigenous language, customs and values and those of the wider community.
Indigenous youths are vulnerable to a range of social and economic factors that affect their human rights. Indigenous youths are often forced to leave their traditional communities and move to urban areas to pursue employment or education opportunities. In the new urban environment, they are often subjected to discrimination by the wider community and denied equal opportunities in employment and education. Throughout the world, indigenous youths are disproportionately represented in youth unemployment. They may have great difficulty when they are separated from their traditional communities and live in a social environment that does not promote their participation in economic or social life. This can have devastating effects on their sense of self-worth and cultural identity and may lead to a range of serious health and social problems, such as depression and substance abuse. In many cases, indigenous youth also lack adequate access to affordable and culturally sensitive health education and health care, increasing their risk of contracting preventable diseases.
They inherit the responsibility to protect and preserve their traditional lands, resources and sacred sites upon which their cultural heritage and identity is based. However, many indigenous youths today are physically and psychologically removed from their culture and traditional life. They require special assistance so that they can regain and preserve their cultural heritage and enjoy free access to their traditional lands and sacred sites. Continuous damage to the environment threatens the survival of many indigenous people. Because their cultural identity and heritage is inseparable from their traditional lands, the protection and conservation of the environment is a priority for indigenous youth worldwide.
We have to focus on education, health, nutrition, primary health care, basic education, safe water and sanitation, activities to protect children from exploitation, violence and abuse and rural development to improve the living condition of indigenous women as well as children.
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