INSIDE AN IWI Anahera Herbert-Graves The rights of indigenous peoples

• Published date: 02 March 2021
• Publication title: Northland Age, The

Here is a summarised adaptation and synopsis of information found on various government websites about it.

The declaration consists of an introduction, the preamble, and 46 articles that set out the rights and responsibilities of the declaration, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2007. New Zealand signed up to it on April 20, 2010.

The declaration reflects and elaborates on the provisions of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The preamble proclaims the declaration to be “a standard of achievement to be pursued in a spirit of partnership and mutual respect”. It sets out some of the reasons that led to the development of a declaration on indigenous peoples’ rights, and the principles that underpin it, including that:

■ Everyone has human rights: indigenous peoples are equal to all other peoples and have all the human rights that everyone has, including the right to self-determination, the right to be free from discrimination, the right to be respected as distinct peoples, and collective, as well as individual rights.

■ Indigenous peoples have not always been able to fully realise their human rights. Historical injustices, including through colonisation and the loss of lands and resources, have prevented indigenous peoples from fully exercising all their rights. Therefore, there is an urgent need to respect and promote the rights of indigenous peoples.

■ The declaration offers assistance to better ensure indigenous peoples...