“The story is not new. The doors of the UN were shut down to indigenous peoples for decades. In fact, the doors of all international parties and most national parties were locked as soon as indigenous persons would approach them. You would have thought that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights might have changed this. As it is for most indigenous peoples of the world, we are still fighting, even begging, for our most basic human rights.” Aqqaluk Lynge, Chairperson of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference in Greenland
Indigenous rights leaders and advocates are making the rounds at the U.N. this week and in the coming week in an attempt to convince member states to pass the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It would appear the CANZUS States - Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the U.S. (and ironically, some African states) are being offered the perfect opportunity to dissociate themselves from a mired past; a clean break with a dishonorable history to an offering of a new opportunity to construct a healthy future, one of mutual respect with the Indigenous Peoples of the world.
It is the term “self-determination” that appears to be a source of apprehension for the CANZUS states, which are behind the delay of the passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and leaders and representatives of indigenous peoples are trying to re-assure those states reluctant to clear the way for its passage.
“They gave the example of the declaration’s reference to self-determination, which they noted could be misrepresented as conferring a unilateral right of self-determination and possible secession, thus threatening the political unity, territorial integrity and stability of existing member states.”
To the contrary, during a recent briefing at United Nations Headquarters, executive director of The American Indian Law Alliance, Kent Lebsock commented to the media, “It’s important to remember that this is a declaration, it is not international law. This is not something countries are going be forced to follow. It’s a recommendation as to how to interact with indigenous people and they seem to constantly forget that this is a standard that we try to achieve.”
The Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations, H.E. Ambassador Enrique Berruga Filloy stated, “It is important to point out that the declaration is, in many ways, recognition of provisions which already exist in numerous national legislations such as the case of the Mexican Constitution. It is also essential to say that, because this sometimes creates confusion, that it contains all of the necessary safe guards to preserve the integrity and institutions of nation states. Politically speaking this declaration enjoys a very broad support within the international community and most importantly from the vast majority of the world’s Indigenous Peoples.”
“We hope that with this launching, on the international level and through the media, of this declaration, we hope that the General Assembly will be in a position to adopt it in the coming few weeks. We expect to get the declaration adopted by consensus, for sure. And we’ll be pushing for that - without any amendments. It’s been discussed long enough. We’ve come a long way and it’s high time to have it adopted. And those that decide to step aside from this - I think they will figure it out, how to explain it to their own people as to why they have decided to take this position. There is a cost.”
As an American citizen, I know that by acknowledging the rights of Indigenous Peoples here and throughout the world, I am acknowledging my own human rights in the process. By opposing the Declaration on The Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the CANZUS states run the risk of being described as outmoded, confusing, unworkable, contradictory and deeply flawed by future generations.
“This is truly a people’s movement and its one of the first true peoples movements within the United Nations system. No one said let’s do human rights for indigenous peoples. We kicked down the doors in 1977 and in 1984 the working group was established - the working group on indigenous population…was established in the sub-basement of the least important part of the United Nations in Geneva; they tried to hide us away. For the first time in the history of the U.N. grassroots peoples…without electricity, without plumbing and without any kind of modern conveniences such as telephones and fax machines were going to the United Nations in Geneva and having input into the language of this document.” Kent Lebsock
Elisa Burchett
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
Indigenous rights leaders and advocates are making the rounds at the U.N. this week and in the coming week in an attempt to convince member states to pass the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It would appear the CANZUS States - Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the U.S. (and ironically, some African states) are being offered the perfect opportunity to dissociate themselves from a mired past; a clean break with a dishonorable history to an offering of a new opportunity to construct a healthy future, one of mutual respect with the Indigenous Peoples of the world.
It is the term “self-determination” that appears to be a source of apprehension for the CANZUS states, which are behind the delay of the passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and leaders and representatives of indigenous peoples are trying to re-assure those states reluctant to clear the way for its passage.
“They gave the example of the declaration’s reference to self-determination, which they noted could be misrepresented as conferring a unilateral right of self-determination and possible secession, thus threatening the political unity, territorial integrity and stability of existing member states.”
To the contrary, during a recent briefing at United Nations Headquarters, executive director of The American Indian Law Alliance, Kent Lebsock commented to the media, “It’s important to remember that this is a declaration, it is not international law. This is not something countries are going be forced to follow. It’s a recommendation as to how to interact with indigenous people and they seem to constantly forget that this is a standard that we try to achieve.”
The Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations, H.E. Ambassador Enrique Berruga Filloy stated, “It is important to point out that the declaration is, in many ways, recognition of provisions which already exist in numerous national legislations such as the case of the Mexican Constitution. It is also essential to say that, because this sometimes creates confusion, that it contains all of the necessary safe guards to preserve the integrity and institutions of nation states. Politically speaking this declaration enjoys a very broad support within the international community and most importantly from the vast majority of the world’s Indigenous Peoples.”
“We hope that with this launching, on the international level and through the media, of this declaration, we hope that the General Assembly will be in a position to adopt it in the coming few weeks. We expect to get the declaration adopted by consensus, for sure. And we’ll be pushing for that - without any amendments. It’s been discussed long enough. We’ve come a long way and it’s high time to have it adopted. And those that decide to step aside from this - I think they will figure it out, how to explain it to their own people as to why they have decided to take this position. There is a cost.”
As an American citizen, I know that by acknowledging the rights of Indigenous Peoples here and throughout the world, I am acknowledging my own human rights in the process. By opposing the Declaration on The Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the CANZUS states run the risk of being described as outmoded, confusing, unworkable, contradictory and deeply flawed by future generations.
“This is truly a people’s movement and its one of the first true peoples movements within the United Nations system. No one said let’s do human rights for indigenous peoples. We kicked down the doors in 1977 and in 1984 the working group was established - the working group on indigenous population…was established in the sub-basement of the least important part of the United Nations in Geneva; they tried to hide us away. For the first time in the history of the U.N. grassroots peoples…without electricity, without plumbing and without any kind of modern conveniences such as telephones and fax machines were going to the United Nations in Geneva and having input into the language of this document.” Kent Lebsock
Elisa Burchett
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report