In order to demonstrate a strong global commitment to the human rights of indigenous peoples, it is vital that the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples be adopted by the UN General Assembly; Amnesty International has launched a petition calling on states around the world to support the adoption of the Declaration.


After more than two decades of negotiation and debate, the United Nations is moving forward with global human rights standards to protect the rights of some of the worlds most marginalized and vulnerable peoples.

The draft UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the UN Human Rights Council at its historic first meeting in June.

The Declaration must now be adopted by the UN General Assembly in order to become part of the body of international human rights standards.

The draft Declaration is intended to inspire and inform measures to address the widespread discrimination and deeply entrenched racism faced by indigenous peoples in every region of the world.

The Declaration affirms the right of indigenous peoples to have meaningful control over their own lives, to maintain their distinct cultural identities for future generations, and to have secure access to the lands and natural resources essential to their ways of life.

Disappointingly, Canada, which had played an active role in the negotiation of the draft text, has dramatically its position on the Declaration since the election of the Harper government. Canada called for a vote rather than allowing the Declaration to be adopted by consensus and was one of only two states to vote against the Declaration. The other was Russia.

Government spokespersons have tried to justify Canadas opposition to the Declaration claiming that the Declarations vision of indigenous rights is incompatible with Canadian laws and policies including land rights policies that have already been repeatedly condemned by UN human rights bodies.

The United States, New Zealand, and Australia, which are not members of the Human Rights Council, have also opposed the adoption of the Declaration. Its feared that the small group of states that have opposed the Declaration will put pressure on other governments to join them in voting against the Declaration when it comes before the General Assembly later this year.

Speak out for the human rights of Indigenous peoples:
In order to demonstrate a strong global commitment to the human rights of indigenous peoples, it is vital that the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples be adopted by the UN General Assembly with the support of as many states as possible.

Write to the Prime Minister and the Ministers for Indian and Foreign Affairs:

· Emphasize the urgent need for strong human rights standards to counter the widespread discrimination and marginalization faced by indigenous peoples worldwide

· Note the positive role played by Canada in developing the draft United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

· Express disappointment that Canada tried to prevent adoption of the Declaration by the Human Rights Council during its June meeting

· Express your concern that the Canadian governments opposition to the draft Declaration could undermine the credibility of an instrument that is vitally important to the safety and well-being of indigenous peoples in every region of the world

· Urge Canada not to oppose adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the U.N. General Assembly this Fall

Write to:


The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0A6

Honourable Peter McKay
Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0A6

Honourable Jim Prentice
Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0A6
Write in your own words, or adapt the sample letter below:

Dear Prime Minister/Dear Minister:

Every day, Indigenous peoples around the world face grave violations of their fundamental human rights because of widespread and deeply rooted racism and discrimination against them. In every region of the world, Indigenous peoples are among the most impoverished, most marginalized and most vulnerable sectors of society.

For more than two decades, states and Indigenous peoples have been working together to develop a United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to provide inspiration and guidance for the protection of the human rights of indigenous peoples.

Canada has played a critical role in the process by helping states and indigenous peoples find common ground on a Declaration that meets the needs of indigenous peoples while affirming basic principles of justice, democracy and good government essential to Indigenous and non-Indigenous societies alike.

I was deeply disappointed, therefore, to learn that Canadian officials tried to prevent the adoption of the Declaration by the UN Human Rights Council.

The Declaration has wide support among states around the world. I am concerned that by joining the isolated minority of states opposed to the Declaration, Canada may undermine the credibility and effectiveness a human rights instrument that is of vital importance to some of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in the world.

Therefore I would urge you to ensure that Canada does nothing to further obstruct the adoption of this critical human rights instrument when the Declaration comes before the General Assembly.

Sincerely,