UN welcomes New Zealand’s decision to endorse Indigenous declaration

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) welcomes the New Zealand Government’s decision to endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

The Declaration, adopted by the General Assembly on 13 September 2007, sets out important standards for the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples, including their rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health, education and other issues.

Matilda Bogner, Regional Representative for OHCHR in the Pacific said:

“We welcome New Zealand’s decision to endorse this Declaration and see it as a further public commitment towards ensuring human rights and social justice for indigenous people in New Zealand.

The Declaration sets out important standards for rights of indigenous peoples and places additional responsibilities on the Government. We encourage New Zealand to fully implement all the principles into their policies and programs.”

New Zealand is the one of four countries, along with Australia, Canada and the USA, that originally voted against the Declaration in 2007. In April 2009, Australia reversed its position and publicly endorsed the Declaration. The USA and Canada are still yet to endorse the Declaration.

ENDS

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