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Govt preparing to endorse Declaration

21 February 2008 - The federal government is preparing to endorse the landmark United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was opposed by the former Howard government.

Just days after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd led the federal parliament in apologising to members of the Stolen Generations, Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith on Sunday revealed the government was consulting with stakeholders about reversing Australia’s opposition to the declaration.

Australia was one of just four countries which last year voted against the non-binding declaration of the UN General Assembly that sets out the rights of the world’s estimated 370 million Indigenous people.

The declaration - more than 20 years in the drafting - was supported by 143 nations but the Howard government refused to support it, arguing it would put Aboriginal customary law in a “superior position” to national law.

That claim was dismissed by Labor, Indigenous leaders and law experts.

“We are of course positively disposed to the declaration,” Mr Smith told Network Ten on the weekend.

“But once we’ve finalised those consultations and we’ve come to a conclusion (about supporting it), we simply let our view be known (in the UN General Assembly).”

Mr Smith said last week’s apology to the Stolen Generations had enhanced Australia’s reputation internationally.

Three United Nations Special Rapporteurs as well as the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on Monday welcomed the Stolen Generations apology in a statement.

“We are specially moved by the apology offered to the members of the Stolen Generation and their families, victims of a deliberate policy of assimilation of the Aboriginal culture that contradicted the basic human rights principles of equality and dignity,” the statement read.

“ We welcome the Australian Government’s commitment to build a common future with the indigenous peoples of the country based on mutual respect.

“Australia’s efforts to acknowledge historical injustices and to promote reconciliation set an example of how to enhance harmonious and cooperative relationships between Indigenous peoples and States, in the spirit of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

“This apology will strengthen the moral fabric of the country and reinforce the Aboriginal contribution to Australian society.”

Source: National Indigenous Times

Further information: UN declaration issues page - includes news index and external links

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