On UN Indigenous People's Day (9 August), Survival welcomes the UN
Human Rights Council's historic vote in favour of the declaration on
indigenous people's rights. Canada and Russia were the only two
countries on the council to vote against the declaration.
Several African countries including South Africa voted in favour of the
declaration, breaking with African governments' traditional reluctance to
recognise indigenous peoples.
Canada, which refused to back the declaration, has faced a long campaign by Survival over its treatment of the Innu
people of Labrador and Quebec. Over the last 40 years, the Innu have
been moved from their land and made to live in settled communities. The
new communities are marked by extremely high levels of alcoholism,
petrol-sniffing amongst children, violence, and record levels of
suicides.
Survival's director Stephen Corry said today, A UN declaration of
indigenous peoples' rights is long overdue and it's encouraging that
many of the former colonial powers, together with South Africa, finally
supported this very progressive move. What is really dismaying is that
Canada decided to join with Russia in opposing the draft declaration.
Canada's treatment of many of its indigenous peoples is very shabby
indeed and they will feel further discriminated against by their
government's actions at the UN.'
The declaration was first discussed over 20 years ago. It will now move
to the UN General Assembly, where member countries are expected to vote
on it later this year. The Council recommended that the General
Assembly approve the declaration.
If approved, the declaration would set a benchmark against which
countries' treatment of tribal peoples can be judged; it is not legally
binding. The declaration recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples to
their land and to live as they wish. It also affirms that, for example,
they should not be moved from their lands without their free and
informed consent.
For further information contact Miriam Ross on (+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org
