History is made!
New Zealand reverses opposition to U.N. Declaration on Indigenous Rights, U.S. reviewing stance
Kenneth Deer
Exclusive to Turtle Island News
UNITED NATIONS NEW YORK, N.Y.-The government of New Zealand announced its support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Monday at the opening ceremonies of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
New Zealand was one of the four governments that voted against the Declaration on September 13, 2007, along with Canada, Australia and the United States. This is good news for all Indigenous Peoples around the world as the Declaration becomes more and more entrenched in the UN system and supported by more states. Now that it changed its vote, and with Australia already endorsing the Declaration, that leaves Canada and the United States. Canada has announced in the recent Throne Speech that it intends to endorse the Declaration but when that will happen is not clear. The next possible date would be June 21st on Canada's National Aboriginal Day. That would leave the United States as the only country in the UN that has not endorsed the Declaration.
Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 11:54 AM
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