United Nations, Sept 14: The UN General Assembly has adopted with overwhelming majority a landmark declaration endorsing the rights of 370 million indigenous people worldwide over their lands and resources despite strong opposition from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The non-binding declaration, approved yesterday by the 192-member general assembly by 143 votes to four with 11 abstentions, brings an end to two decades of negotiations.
It, however, failed to satisfy some of the developed nations, where a majority of population has descended from settlers and immigrants, who argued that it gives excessive
power to the natives and conflicts with their national laws.
The declaration sets out the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples, as well as their rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health, education and other issues.
It 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.
A major contentious clause was that "indigenous peoples have the right to the lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired."
This, the countries opposing it, argued could result conflict over land now owned by the descendants of settlers and immigrants. As a result, at a late stage a clause was
incorporated which makes it clear that the declaration does not authorise or encourage any action, which would dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of the countries.
The declaration prohibits discrimination against natives 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 UN permanent forum on indigenous issues estimates there are more than 370 million indigenous people in some 70 countries worldwide.
General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed al Khalifa, Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon and High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour promptly welcomed the adoption
of the declaration. In a statement, ban described the declaration's adoption as "a historic moment" when UN member states and indigenous peoples have "reconciled with their painful histories and are resolved to move forward together on the path of human rights, justice and development for all."
"The importance of this document for indigenous peoples and, more broadly, for the human rights agenda, cannot be underestimated," Sheikha Haya said. But she warned that even with this progress, indigenous peoples still face marginalisation, extreme poverty and other human rights violations.
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, September 14, 2007, 00:00