Indigenous people have 20 years less life expectancy: UN

[Judi Lynn]

Indigenous people have 20 years less life expectancy: UN
Agence France-Presse
January 14, 2010

RIO DE JANEIRO - Indigenous people have up to 20 years less life expectancy than non-indigneous people in their countries, a UN report released Thursday said.

Poverty, malnutrition and various infectious diseases conspire to cut their lives shorter, said the report, which was released simultaneously in several countries with significant indigenous populations, including Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, South Africa and the United States.

Australia's Aborigines and Nepal's ethnic Kirat descendants fared worst when their lifespans were compared to those of non-indigenous folk, dying 20 years earlier on average than their better-off compatriots.

Canada's First Nations, Inuit and Metis lived 17 years less, while Guatemala's Amerindians had spans shorter by 13 years, and New Zealand's Maoris died 11 years younger than non-indigenous citizens.

"This report reveals several alarming data about indigenous populations," the head of the UN information center in Brazil, Giancarlo Summa, told a news conference in Rio de Janeiro.

It notably highlighted the gaps that remained in the economic, social and cultural rights of indigenous populations, he said.

More:
http://www.dose.ca/news/story.html?id=2441788

[Downwinder]

1. Wish they would give a link to the full report.

Thanks for posting.

[L. Coyote]

2. This should post in LATEST!