Threatened and Endangered Peoples
Threatened and Endangered Peoples – The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the General Assembly on September 13, 2007; 144 nations in favor, 4 states against (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States; shame on them!), with 11 abstentions (Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Colombia, Georgia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Samoa, and Ukraine).
Later, the 4 nations that voted against this declaration reversed their stance and now support the declaration. Keep in mind that ‘reversing’ an ‘against’ stance into an in ‘favor’ of stance does not necessarily mean that it will be implemented. Reversing an ‘against’ stance is good public relations. It must be supported by action.
“We will be changing our position here at the UN and remove our status as permanent objector to become a full supporter,” Dr. Bennett told reporters on May 9, {2016}. The declaration, she said, tells governments, corporations and all Canadians that “one must begin by meaningful engagement with indigenous people, and be able to understand the rights that they hold, as they begin any thoughts of a project or policies that affect indigenous people.” (By Gloria Galloway, May 9, 2016; theglobeandmail.com: Canada Drops Opposition to UN Indigenous Rights Declaration).
UNDRIP is the most all-inclusive, complete, international tool on the rights of indigenous peoples. It sets up and helps initiate a comprehensive framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity, and well-being of the indigenous peoples of the world and it elaborates on current human rights standards and basic-essential freedoms as they apply to the particular situation of indigenous peoples.