The International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (1995 - 2004) was proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/163 of 21 December 1993 with the main objective of strengthening international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as human rights, the environment, development, education and health. The theme for the Decade is "Indigenous people: partnership in action". In the same resolution, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to appoint the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights as the Coordinator of the Decade and established the Voluntary Fund for the Decade to assist the funding of projects and programmes which promote the goals of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People. In its resolution 52/108, the General Assembly appointed the High Commissioner for Human Rights as Coordinator of the Decade.

In its resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994, the General Assembly adopted the short-term program of activities for 1995. The comprehensive program of activities was adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 50/157 of 21 December 1995. The General Assembly also authorized the establishment of the Voluntary Fund for the International Decade for the purpose of financing projects and programmes during the Decade.