"Take the path to justice. Join Caritas Australia and Walk As One in solidarity with Indigenous communities to achieve a more just world."
There are 370 million Indigenous Peoples in the world today, spread across over 90 countries around the world, and make up 5% of the world's population. And yet, Indigenous Peoples constitute 15% of the world's poor. Walk As One with Indigenous Peoples and take action for a more just world.
Walk As One Film
Why should we Walk As One?
There are more than 370 million Indigenous peoples living in some 90 countries around the world today. Their contribution to the global community should not be undervalued: they are custodians of some of the world’s most biologically diverse territories; are responsible for a great deal of the world’s cultural and linguistic diversity; and their traditional knowledge is an invaluable resource in many sectors, such as medicine and agriculture.
If the invaluable contribution of Indigenous Peoples to the human family is clear, so too is their marginalisation and disadvantage. Although Indigenous Peoples make up roughly 5 percent of the global population, they constitute up to 15 percent of the world’s poor, and over a third of the world’s 900 million extremely poor rural population. The majority are living within Australia’s own region, Asia.
Caritas supporters are joining together to seek solutions to these challenges, calling on our government to improve Australia’s foreign aid programme and policies as they relate to Indigenous Peoples, and promote respect for and compliance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Together, we are also seeking transformational change in communities and businesses, promoting positive engagement with Indigenous led initiatives and organisations, and encouraging best practise concerning private sector operations on Indigenous territories around the world.
What is the path to justice?
Caritas Australia welcomes an increasing willingness within the Australian and International community to engage proactively with Indigenous Peoples, recognising their unique rights and needs. We seek to build on this foundation and act in accordance with the principles of justice and solidarity which it reflects.
Justice for Indigenous Peoples can only be achieved by developing relationships with, deepening respect towards, and increasing opportunities for Indigenous communities around the world. It is crucial for this process that our good intentions, whether at a governmental, organisational, community or individual level, become measurable actions that will support Indigenous Peoples to achieve equality in all aspects of life.
Walk the path to justice – sign the petition and order your free Walk As One film screening kit today.