Assyrian Monitor: Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Are Inherent and Inalienable

(عربي - English)

On August 9, the world marks the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Yet, for many of these communities — including the Assyrian people — the day is overshadowed by the harsh reality of exclusion, discrimination, and direct threats to their identity and survival, particularly in conflict zones.

The rights of indigenous peoples are not favors to be granted at the discretion of governments. They are explicit, binding obligations under international law, affirmed in instruments such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Any failure to uphold these commitments constitutes a serious breach of international law and undermines societal peace.

The Assyrian Monitor for Human Rights calls on the international community to take urgent and tangible action to protect indigenous peoples and to safeguard their inherent, inalienable rights — including the rights to land, language, culture, and full participation in decision-making. Empowering indigenous peoples with knowledge of their rights and the tools to claim them through international mechanisms is the cornerstone of any credible protection strategy. Without such empowerment, these communities will remain vulnerable to marginalization and risk disappearing from the human and cultural landscape.

Assyrian Monitor for Human Rights
August 9, 2025