A/68/333 2. Indigenous peoples 52. The Special Rapporteur notes that, as a result of historical and contemporary factors, indigenous peoples are part of a worldwide disadvantaged minority as they continue to face discriminatory practices deeply rooted in cultural structures and reinforced by industrial development. While they constitute approximately 5 per cent of the world’s population — 370 millions — indigenous peoples represent around one third of the world’s 900 million extremely poor rural people. This situation of marginalization is prevalent in all types of countries regardless of their level of development, as indigenous people consistently lag behind the non-indigenous population in terms of standards of living and development. 40 53. The Special Rapporteur notes that, as a result of geographical isolation and marginalization, indigenous children are less likely to access education in comparison to non-indigenous populations. The lack of investment in teaching in indigenous languages in schools encourages loss of identity. Moreover, a uniform curriculum increases misinformation on the history, culture and identities of indigenous peoples and reinforces unequal treatment by teachers and the educational system. These weaknesses of the education system significantly contribute to decreasing enrolment rates, drop-out, illiteracy and social exclusion. For instance, in small indigenous communities in Southern Arnhem Land (Australia), up to 93 per cent of the population is illiterate. In Ecuador, the illiteracy rate of indigenous peoples was 28 per cent in 2001, compared to the national rate of 13 per cent, while in Venezuela (Bolivarian State of) the indigenous illiteracy rate (32 per cent) was five times higher than the non-indigenous illiteracy rate (6.4 per cent). 41 Furthermore, in Bolivia (Plurinational State of), according to the 2001 census, the illiteracy rate for the indigenous population reached 19.61 per cent as against 4.51 per cent for the non-indigenous population. 42 54. The Special Rapporteur notes that the increasing expropriation of indigenous peoples’ lands for economic purposes also reinforces their vulnerability in terms of their right to adequate housing by affecting their ancestral culture, which is based on communal land and resources. According to Minority Rights Group International, “One of the overriding threats facing minorities and indigenous peoples in every region of the world is the risk of being driven from their land and natural resources, which are vital for their livelihoods, their culture and often their identity as a people”. 43 The Department of Economic and Social Affairs has noted that there has been an upsurge in infrastructure development, particularly of large hydroelectric dams, oil and gas pipelines, and roads in indigenous territories; 44 there has been a constant failure to consult the populations concerned first. As a result of those development-driven displacements, many indigenous persons migrate to urban areas where they frequently live in poverty and face discrimination. In many of those urban areas, indigenous peoples also experience unequal treatment in the rental market, in the allocation of resources for housing, including loans and credits, and __________________ 40 41 42 43 44 14/22 State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (United Nations publication, Sales No. 09.VI.13), pp. 21-22. Ibid., p. 132. See A/HRC/23/56/Add.1, para. 38. Minority Rights Group International, State of the World’s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2012, p. 7. State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (United Nations publication, Sales No. 09.VI.13), p. 19. 13-43133