EU Statement on NZ joining UN Declaration

Statement by the spokesperson of HR Catherine Ashton, on New Zealand joining the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People

The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement:

"Indigenous issues form an integral part of the European Union's human rights policy. The adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007 advanced the rights and ensured the continued development of indigenous peoples around the world. HR Catherine Ashton therefore warmly welcomes the important announcement made by the government of New Zealand on 19 April in the framework of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues taking place in New York and in the New Zealand Parliament that New Zealand now supports the UN Declaration. She looks forward to continuing the close co-operation with New Zealand on a broad range of human rights issues".

ENDS

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