Every year on this day, the world celebrates indigenous peoples and their contribution to the development of humanity. This holiday was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1994 to draw attention to the protection of their rights and the preservation of their cultures and languages.
Today, there are about 476 million indigenous peoples living in 90 countries around the world. They preserve more than 5,000 unique cultures. Three peoples are officially recognized as indigenous in Ukraine: the Crimean Tatars, the Karaites, and the Krymchaks.
These are peoples with centuries-old history, culture, language, and traditions that are an integral part of Ukrainian society. These are peoples with centuries-old history, culture, language, and traditions that are an integral part of Ukrainian society.
Today, together with all Ukrainians, they are fighting for the freedom and independence of our state. Their homeland, Crimea, has been under Russian occupation for more than 11 years, but the struggle continues, and victory will be shared.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center team sincerely congratulates everyone on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples! Let us remember: our wealth lies in diversity, and our strength lies in unity.