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Indigenous protesters target Aust UN mission

By Richard Reynolds

31 August 2007 - Demonstrators have protested outside Australia's United Nations mission in New York, calling on the Government to end its opposition to the UN's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The UN General Assembly will vote on the declaration next month.

The crowd was small, fewer than 100 people, but more than 25 organisations were there, most representing indigenous people in various countries.

The declaration is not a treaty, simply a statement of certain rights that should be upheld for all indigenous people.

It would carry no force in Australia courts, but the Federal Government opposes it in its current form.

The Canadian Government supported the declaration for 23 years, but then changed its position last year.

The shift came just 24 hours after a visit to Ottawa by Prime Minister John Howard, leading to rife speculation that Mr Howard prompted the change.

Observers believe that despite the opposition from the two countries, the declaration will be approved by the UN's General Assembly.

Source: ABC

Further information: united nations - human rights page - includes news index and external links

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