On 23 December 1994, the General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World''s Indigenous People shall be observed on 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World''s Indigenous People (1994-2004).The many events organized as part of the programme of the Decade contributed a lot to placing the cause of the world’s indigenous peoples high on the agenda of the international community. On 28 July 2000 the UN Economic and Social Council established the Permanent Forum of Indigenous Peoples, which for the fist time ever gave representatives of the indigenous peoples the right to meet and discuss their problems and concerns within the United Nations.2004 being the last year of the Decade, ECOSOC proposed to proclaim a Second Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. At its next session, the General Assembly is expected to adopt a resolution to this effect. An initiative to proclaim the Second Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples was put forward by the third session of the Permanent Forum of Indigenous Peoples last May. Ms. Zinaida Strogalschikiova was representing Russia at that session.On 13 August the UN Information Centre in Moscow will hold a briefing as part of the observance of the International Day of the World''s Indigenous People, where Ms. Zinaida Strogalschikiova will be a guest speaker. Besides her, the briefing will be attended by representatives of indigenous people, parliamentarians, experts, journalists and general public.