New York, Aug 11 - The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) has called for greater protection of the world's 370 million indigenous people who are considered the most vulnerable members of human societies, WAM news agency reported.

'Many indigenous peoples live in conditions that make them especially vulnerable to the spread of HIV,' said Unicef Executive Director Ann M. Veneman said in a message marking the International Day of the World's Indigenous People.

'Yet efforts to monitor the epidemic among indigenous peoples are often lacking, as are examples of interventions informed by local participation,' said Veneman.

She stressed that the forces driving the HIV epidemic in indigenous communities must be identified and understood to develop effective educational programmes.

'Health education is essential to preventing the transmission of HIV and AIDS,' she said, adding that differing 'indigenous beliefs, practices and sensitivities about illness, sex and reproduction will have an impact on the success of that health education in indigenous communities'.