Indigenous Rights Declaration to guide work

Human Rights Commission

14 September 2007

Indigenous Rights Declaration to guide Commission work

The Human Rights Commission today welcomed the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the United Nations General Assembly.

"This is an important milestone internationally in the recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples," said Chief Human Rights Commissioner Rosslyn Noonan and Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres.

"However the Commission is sorry that the New Zealand government felt unable to support the adoption of the Declaration over a few outstanding issues, relating to land and resources, redress and perceived rights of veto on government actions," they said.

While the Declaration is not legally binding it does set out certain standards. As the preamble states the Declaration presents "a standard of achievement to be pursued in a spirit of partnership and mutual respect."

"In extended negotiations leading up to the adoption of the Declaration yesterday, the New Zealand government has supported the vast majority of the text. The Commission's hope had been that the few outstanding matters could be resolved before the vote was taken. Nevertheless, the Declaration will be a useful standard against which to measure indigenous policies both here and overseas," said Commissioner de Bres.

The Commission will use the Declaration to further public discussion on the nature of indigenous rights, the Treaty of Waitangi and the relationship between Maori and the Crown.

The Declaration sets out the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples, as well as their rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health, education, land and resources and other issues.

The Declaration emphasises the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions and to pursue their development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations.

It also prohibits discrimination against indigenous peoples and promotes their full and effective participation in all matters that concern them, and their right to remain distinct and to pursue their own visions of economic and social development.

The Declaration can be accessed here:

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/declaration.html

ENDS

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