The following comes from the Indigenous Peoples Caucus, via http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com. It’s a notice/invite to help get the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples approved…
I’ve studied the declaration previously, had some concerns over how a few things were expressed, but overall it’s really passed due for it to have some standing. Of course, at this point it’s not likely the declaration will really accomplish that much, because like all UN declarations, it’s an agreement of good faith rather than, something that can be enforced—but it’s no less a good starting point to (hopefully) help bring some sanity to the world.
URGENT MATTER – INDIGENOUS PEOPLES – GLOBAL CONSULTATION
IMPORTANT NOTICE
An agreement has been reached over the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The ‘Co-sponsors’ and the Africa Group of States have now reached agreement over an amended version of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The Indigenous Peoples Caucus is undertaking an urgent consultation with Indigenous Peoples delegations to determine whether the amended Declaration is to be supported or rejected. This important consultation ultimately means the amended Declaration is to be approved by the General Assembly or not adopted.
The States that are bound in this agreement will represent a clear majority of the UN members and it will guarantee adoption. It is possible that all States will support the amended Declaration, except a few ‘hard-line’ opponents. We know who those opponents are.
These urgent consultations will determine whether we can live with the amendments, and the Declaration is adopted, OR whether we cannot accept the agreed version, and the Declaration will not be adopted. Your careful scrutiny, combined with priority attention to this consultation, is called for.
Please contact for more information:
Les Malezer
Chairperson, Indigenous Peoples Caucus: les.malezer@faira.org.au
Cell: +1 (646) 338 3029
Website: http://www.ipcaucus.net/
OFFICE
The Church Center
777 UN Plaza
IITC Office, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Tel: +1 (212) 682 3633 ext. 3123
Fax: +1 (212) 682 5354
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