On November 28, 2006, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples suffered a major setback in the United Nations General Assembly. The declaration was supposed to be voted on by the General Assembly after being adopted by a strong majority of the Human Rights Council in June.

Instead, Namibia proposed an amendment to the resolution that would delay the vote until the end of this session of the General Assembly on the grounds that delegations needed more time to consult with their governments before voting.

One concern is that approval should have been a matter of course, given the strong support of the UN Human Rights Council. Since the Declaration is not legally-binding, those opposed can only be against indigenous peoples access to indigenous lands and resources, and their free, prior, and informed consent before those rights are impeded upon.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Contact the U.S. UN Embassy and stress the importance of the Declaration and the rights of indigenous peoples

Office of the U.S. Representative to the United Nations,
Washington Office (USUN/W)
202-736-7555

Geneva Office - Embassy to the UN
(011) 41-22-749-4111