CFSC Service

Indigenous peoples globally continue to face dispossession of their lands and resources, discrimination, forced assimilation and other grave human rights abuses. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is the most comprehensive international human rights instrument to specifically address their economic, social, cultural, political, civil, spiritual and environmental rights. In its own words, the Declaration sets out minimum standards necessary for the “dignity, survival and well-being” of Indigenous peoples.

The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted the Declaration on 13 September 2007. This historic adoption followed more than twenty years of deliberation and debate in which Indigenous peoples worked directly with states to elaborate upon and advance their human rights.

The Declaration affirms the inherent or pre-existing collective human rights of Indigenous peoples, as well as the human rights of Indigenous individuals. It provides a framework for justice and reconciliation, applying existing human rights standards to the specific historical, cultural and social circumstances of Indigenous peoples.

 

Pocket size copies

Pocket size copies of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples are available in both English and en francais. They are available by contacting the office.

 

Poster

A poster version of the Declaration is
now available, double sided in English and French. They can be ordered from jennifer(at)@quakerservice.ca

Mennonite Central Committee Canada produced on-line readable version of the Declaration.

Resources:

Below are useful education resources to learn about the Declaration. All of these resources are meant to inform and engage people. In particular, CFSC wishes to demonstrate that the Declaration is honoured, celebrated, and increasingly being implemented.

• Webinar: Implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Assembly of First Nations, Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee), Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Amnesty International Canada and CFSC partnered to present an interactive webinar on the UN Declaration on August 8, 2011. The webinar can be viewed in its entirety, including the accompanying powerpoint presentation on the AFN’s web site.

• Book: Realizing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Triumph, Hope, and Action (2010)

“The Declaration is a visionary step towards addressing the human rights of indigenous peoples” proclaims United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “[I]t provides a momentous opportunity for States and indigenous peoples to … promote reconciliation and ensure that the past is not repeated.”

Edited by Jackie Hartley, Paul Joffe & CFSC’s Jennifer Preston, “Realizing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Triumph, Hope, and Action” documents the story of the Declaration from idea to adoption by the UN.  A very readable introduction to this newest of UN instruments.  Available at www.purichpublishing.com

• Joint Open Letter to the Government of Canada issued to mark the one year anniversary of Canada’s endorsement of the UN Declaration.  Indigenous peoples and human rights organizations  highlight positive examples of implementation internationally which are in sharp contrast to Canada’s substandard approach.

• Factsheet on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (June 2011)

• Statements of Support Worldwide for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Voices from the UN, International Agencies, States, NGO’s and Indigenous Peoples on the UN Declaration.

• Reflections on Canada’s support of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: The Response of Canadian Friends Service Committee (November 16, 2010)

• Joint Statement in Response to Canada’s Endorsement of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (November 16, 2010). “On November 12th the Canadian government endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We urge the government to move ahead with the implementation of its provisions in a principled manner that fully respects their spirit and intent. The Declaration is more than an aspirational instrument. Governments, courts and other domestic and international institutions are increasingly relying on the Declaration to interpret Indigenous peoples’ human rights and related state obligations. It establishes minimum standards for the survival, dignity, security and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples.” French
  

  Indigenous representatives at the UN. Joan Carling, Jose Carlos Morales and Adelfo Regino Montes. Photo: Jennifer Preston.

• Indigenous Bar Association Handbook: The Indigenous Bar Association has produced a handbook — Understanding and Implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: An Introductory Handbook. This is available here.

• An in-depth law article by Paul Joffe, “UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Canadian Government Positions Incompatible with Genuine Reconciliation” (2010) 26 N.J.C.L. 121. Reprinted by permission of Carswell, a division of Thomson Reuters Canada Limited.

• Factsheet on Canada’s commitment to endorse the Declaration (October 18, 2010)

• Indigenous Representatives Denounce Canada’s Obstructionist Position at COP10, Nagoya, Japan (October 21, 2010). In Nagoya, Japan, Canada has come under severe criticism in the current Convention on Biodiversity negotiations on an international regime on Access and Benefit Sharing from the use of genetic resources. Indigenous Peoples insist the ABS Protocol must take into account the significance of the Declaration. In English and French

• Joint Response to the letter from the Minister (October 5, 2010). “We respectfully request that, prior to announcing its endorsement, the government hold consultations with Indigenous peoples so that there can be a genuine dialogue on the measures needed to implement this standard in the spirit of partnership and co-operation called for by the Declaration.”

• Joint Statement on the 3rd Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Implementation of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples urgently needed (September 13, 2010). Indigenous peoples and civil society organizations are urging the Government of Canada to move ahead with the overdue implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In English and French.

• A Joint Statement at the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (July 2010)
  

  Amnesty International hosts a 24-hour drum marathon on Victoria Island in support of the UN Declaration. Photo: Craig Benjamin.

• A Joint Statement relating to the Convention on Biological Diversity Revised Draft Protocol. (July 6, 2010). This Statement is supported by Indigenous and civil society organizations from different regions of the world. In relation to the world’s Indigenous peoples, the current text of the Revised Draft Protocol is not consistent with the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Charter of the United Nations and other international law and standards.

• Aboriginal Peoples and Civil Society Call for Meaningful Endorsement of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (June 18, 2010)

In an Open Letter, 39 Aboriginal and civil society organizations across Canada are calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to endorse the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples without qualifications and in a manner consistent with international human rights law. Press Release. Open letter: English and French

• The Joint Statement on the CBD Draft Protocol and the UN Declaration (April 20 2010). The Statement is available in English and Spanish.

• Canada’s endorsement of the UN Declaration must be consistent with human rights (March 18, 2010). Statement in response to the Government of Canada’s Throne Speech: in English and French.

• Open Letter Signed by Experts May 1, 2008 re: UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples - Canada Needs to Implement This New Human Rights Instrument. This statement was signed by more than 100 legal and academic experts across Canada. Its release was accompanied by a Press Statement from Indigenous and human rights organizations. Legal scholars and experts urge Canadian Government to abandon “erroneous” and “misleading” opposition to UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
  

  Former Special Rapporteur Rodolfo Stavenhagen and Alex Neve of Amnesty International Canada. Photo: Craig Benjamin.

• Statements By The Government Of Canada And Some Brief Responses: This critically examines the arguments presented by Canada on the UN Declaration. A legal response shows that, in fact, Canada cannot justify the objections to the Declaration. In English and French.

• Canadians Should Embrace New Human Rights Instrument. Statement that all Canadians should embrace the Declaration as positive for the human rights of all, both domestically and internationally.

• Global Implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – and Canada’s Increasing Isolation (2009). Released on the eve of the 2nd anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations, a new report shows governments and institutions around the world are moving ahead with implementation of this human rights instrument. Access Report here. Access accompanying News Release here.

• Shame on Canada for opposing the UN Indigenous Peoples Declaration. An article in The Lawyers Weekly by Alex Neve, General Secretary of Amnesty International Canada.

• The Implementation Gap. A Report of the Symposium entitled “Closing the Implementation Gap“, organized at the request of the former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of Indigenous people, Rodolfo Stavenhagen. The purpose was to review responses to his 2004 mission to Canada and report to the Commission on Human Rights. The report illustrates the will and capacity of Indigenous peoples and civil society to be part of the process of identifying indicators’s and strategies for implementation of the recommendations of the special mechanisms and treaty bodies.