Minister Jiang Duan, permanent mission of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, made a joint statement on behalf of countries with similar views at the 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on 21 May. He expressed concern about the serious violations of indigenous rights by relevant countries and called on the Human Rights Council to pay attention to this issue and take necessary actions. The joint statement said that in the past few centuries, the countries concerned have brutally oppressed and exploited the indigenous people, violated their basic human rights and freedoms, plundered their lands and resources, slaughtered the indigenous people and exterminated their cultures. Indigenous children were forcibly sent to so-called "boarding schools" for assimilation. They were abused in "boarding schools", and a large number of abnormal deaths occurred. The relevant truth has been covered up to now. Novel coronavirus pneumonia and the unequal rights of indigenous people are still being implemented. The Aboriginal people continue to face systemic discrimination and inequality. They live on the edge and bottom of society. Their adverse situation worsens further under the impact of the new crown pneumonia outbreak. The joint statement urged relevant countries to immediately correct mistakes, investigate and hold accountable for violations of indigenous rights, compensate victims and completely eliminate discrimination against indigenous people. The joint statement also called on the Human Rights Council to continue to pay attention to the serious violations of the rights of indigenous peoples by the countries concerned and to take the necessary action. (Xinhua News Agency)