The Royal Danish Embassy in Bangkok co-hosted the Asian launch of The Indigenous World 2026 on 11 August, bringing together diplomats, parliamentarians, UN representatives, civil society groups and Indigenous leaders from across Asia.
The event, held at the Parliament Building in Bangkok, also marked 40 years of The Indigenous World, an annual publication documenting the situation of Indigenous Peoples around the world.
The publication is produced by the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), an organisation founded in Denmark. IWGIA has received support from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more than 25 years.
Speaking at the launch, Danish Deputy Head of Mission Martin Havelykke highlighted the importance of documenting the experiences of Indigenous communities and ensuring that their perspectives are included in policy discussions.
“Reliable knowledge is the foundation of good policy,” Havelykke said, according to the Danish Embassy.
He also stressed the importance of Indigenous Peoples being heard directly rather than simply being discussed by others.
The Bangkok launch focused on developments affecting Indigenous Peoples in Asia, including Thailand. The event brought together regional stakeholders to discuss challenges and progress over the past year.
First published in 1986, The Indigenous World is written by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous experts and is intended to provide communities with information they can use in advocacy and to hold governments and institutions accountable.
For Denmark, the anniversary highlights the country’s long-standing involvement in international efforts to document and promote Indigenous rights.
The 2026 edition is the 40th publication in the series.
