(no subject)
This makes me so happy. I don't know why people would oppose this. Oh wait, they're assholes. That's why. (And I usually love Canadians...) But yah, I've done so much research on indigenous peoples, and if anything, how they are treated (and have been for hundreds of years) piss me off to no end and make me want to beat the crap out of people.
GENEVA - The new U.N. Human Rights Council overrode Canadian and Russian objections Thursday and passed a declaration to protect the rights of indigenous peoples around the world.
The declaration asserted that indigenous peoples may have a right to restitution of land and resources taken from them.
The vote was one of the first significant acts of the new panel, which replaced the widely discredited 53-nation U.N. Human Rights Commission.
By 30-2 vote, the body approved the declaration that said indigenous people should be free from discrimination and have a right "to consider themselves different and to be respected as such." A dozen countries abstained and three were absent.
Adele Wildschut of the Indigenous Caucaus told the council the declaration had its roots in the 1970s when native Americans were asserting their rights.
"The real test will be how this will affect the lives of our people on a daily basis," she said.
A coalition of indigenous people who had been campaigning heavily for the declaration had complained that Canada, a former supporter, had switched sides after the Conservative Party ousted the Liberals earlier this year.
They said Canada joined the United States, Australia and New Zealand - all countries with significant indigenous populations - in opposing the declaration. The U.S., Australia and New Zealand, however, have no vote because they are not members of the 47-nation council, which began its first session last week.
The declaration had been under negotiation for the past 11 years, but Canadian Ambassador Paul Meyer said Canada was concerned some parties had been unable to discuss the wording on several key issues.
"Canada has a long and proud tradition of not only supporting but actively advocating aboriginal and treaty rights at home and is fully committed to working internationally on indigenous issues," Meyer said.
The council also adopted a treaty to protect people against enforced disappearance. Once it has been approved by the U.N. General Assembly, the accord will be opened in Paris for signature by governments, which will then be required to pass laws making enforced disappearance a crime.
GENEVA - The new U.N. Human Rights Council overrode Canadian and Russian objections Thursday and passed a declaration to protect the rights of indigenous peoples around the world.
The declaration asserted that indigenous peoples may have a right to restitution of land and resources taken from them.
The vote was one of the first significant acts of the new panel, which replaced the widely discredited 53-nation U.N. Human Rights Commission.
By 30-2 vote, the body approved the declaration that said indigenous people should be free from discrimination and have a right "to consider themselves different and to be respected as such." A dozen countries abstained and three were absent.
Adele Wildschut of the Indigenous Caucaus told the council the declaration had its roots in the 1970s when native Americans were asserting their rights.
"The real test will be how this will affect the lives of our people on a daily basis," she said.
A coalition of indigenous people who had been campaigning heavily for the declaration had complained that Canada, a former supporter, had switched sides after the Conservative Party ousted the Liberals earlier this year.
They said Canada joined the United States, Australia and New Zealand - all countries with significant indigenous populations - in opposing the declaration. The U.S., Australia and New Zealand, however, have no vote because they are not members of the 47-nation council, which began its first session last week.
The declaration had been under negotiation for the past 11 years, but Canadian Ambassador Paul Meyer said Canada was concerned some parties had been unable to discuss the wording on several key issues.
"Canada has a long and proud tradition of not only supporting but actively advocating aboriginal and treaty rights at home and is fully committed to working internationally on indigenous issues," Meyer said.
The council also adopted a treaty to protect people against enforced disappearance. Once it has been approved by the U.N. General Assembly, the accord will be opened in Paris for signature by governments, which will then be required to pass laws making enforced disappearance a crime.