United Nations
Declaration on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
(read: Natives of North America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis)
Adopted by General Assembly Resolution 61/295 on 13 September 2007
The General Assembly,
Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of
the
United Nations, and good faith in the fulfilment of the obligations
assumed by States in accordance with the Charter,
Affirming that Indigenous (read: Natives of North
America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis) peoples are equal to all
other
peoples, while recognizing the right of all peoples to be different, to
consider themselves different, and to be respected as such,
Affirming also that all peoples contribute to the
diversity
and richness of civilizations and cultures, which constitute the common
heritage of humankind,
Affirming further that all doctrines, policies and
practices
based on or advocating superiority of peoples or individuals on the
basis of national origin or racial, religious, ethnic or cultural
differences are racist, scientifically false, legally invalid, morally
condemnable and socially unjust,
Reaffirming that Indigenous (read: Natives of North
America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis) peoples, in the exercise of
their
rights, should be free from discrimination of any kind,
Concerned that Indigenous (read: Natives of North
America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis) peoples have suffered from
historic
injustices as a result of, inter alia, their colonization and
dispossession of their lands, territories and resources, thus
preventing them from exercising, in particular, their right to
development in accordance with their own needs and interests,
Recognizing the urgent need to respect and promote the
inherent rights of Indigenous (read: Natives of North America, Indian,
Inuit, and Metis) peoples which derive from their
political, economic and social structures and from their cultures,
spiritual traditions, histories and philosophies, especially their
rights to their lands, territories and resources,
Recognizing also the urgent need to respect and promote
the
rights of Indigenous (read: Natives of North America, Indian, Inuit,
and Metis) peoples affirmed in treaties, agreements and other
constructive arrangements with States,
Welcoming the fact that Indigenous (read: Natives of
North America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis) peoples are
organizing
themselves for political, economic, social and cultural enhancement and
in order to bring to an end all forms of discrimination and oppression
wherever they occur,
Convinced that control by Indigenous (read: Natives of
North America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis) peoples over
developments
affecting them and their lands, territories and resources will enable
them to maintain and strengthen their institutions, cultures and
traditions, and to promote their development in accordance with their
aspirations and needs,
Recognizing that respect for Indigenous (read: Natives
of North America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis) knowledge,
cultures
and traditional practices contributes to sustainable and equitable
development and proper management of the environment,
Emphasizing the contribution of the demilitarization of
the
lands and territories of Indigenous (read: Natives of North America,
Indian, Inuit, and Metis) peoples to peace, economic and
social progress and development, understanding and friendly relations
among nations and peoples of the world,
Recognizing in particular the right of Indigenous (read:
Natives of North America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis)
families and
communities to retain shared responsibility for the upbringing,
training, education and well-being of their children, consistent with
the rights of the child,
Considering that the rights affirmed in treaties,
agreements
and other constructive arrangements between States and Indigenous
(read: Natives of North America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis)
peoples are, in some situations, matters of international concern,
interest, responsibility and character,
Considering also that treaties, agreements and other
constructive arrangements, and the relationship they represent, are the
basis for a strengthened partnership between Indigenous (read: Natives
of North America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis) peoples and
States,
Acknowledging that the Charter of the United Nations,
the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (2) and
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,2 as well as
the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,(3) affirm the
fundamental importance of the right to self-determination of all
peoples, by virtue of which they freely determine their political
status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural
development,
Bearing in mind that nothing in this Declaration may be
used
to deny any peoples their right to self-determination, exercised in
conformity with international law,
Convinced that the recognition of the rights of
Indigenous (read: Natives of North America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis)
peoples in this Declaration will enhance harmonious and cooperative
relations between the State and Indigenous (read: Natives of North
America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis) peoples, based on principles
of justice, democracy, respect for human rights, non-discrimination and
good faith,
Encouraging States to comply with and effectively
implement
all their obligations as they apply to Indigenous (read: Natives of
North America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis) peoples under
international instruments, in particular those related to human rights,
in consultation and cooperation with the peoples concerned,
Emphasizing that the
United Nations has an important and
continuing role to play in promoting and protecting the rights of
Indigenous (read: Natives of North America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis)
peoples,
Believing that this Declaration is a further important
step
forward for the recognition, promotion and protection of the rights and
freedoms of Indigenous (read: Natives of North America, Indian, Inuit,
and Metis) peoples and in the development of relevant
activities of the United Nations system in this field,
Recognizing and reaffirming that Indigenous (read:
Natives of North America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis) individuals
are
entitled without discrimination to all human rights recognized in
international law, and that Indigenous (read: Natives of North America,
Indian, Inuit, and Metis) peoples possess collective
rights which are indispensable for their existence, well-being and
integral development as peoples,
Recognizing that the situation of Indigenous (read:
Natives of North America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis) peoples
varies
from region to region and from country to country and that the
significance of national and regional particularities and various
historical and cultural backgrounds should be taken into consideration,
Solemnly proclaims the following United Nations
Declaration on
the Rights of Indigenous (read: Natives of North America, Indian,
Inuit, and Metis) Peoples as a standard of achievement to be
pursued in a spirit of partnership and mutual respect:
Article 1
Indigenous (read: Natives of North America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis)
peoples have the right to the full enjoyment, as a
collective or as individuals, of all human rights and fundamental
freedoms as recognized in the Charter of the United Nations, the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights(4) and international human rights
law.
Article 2
Indigenous (read: Natives of North America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis)
peoples and individuals are free and equal to all other
peoples and individuals and have the right to be free from any kind of
discrimination, in the exercise of their rights, in particular that
based on their Indigenous (read: Natives of North America, Indian,
Inuit, and Metis) origin or identity.
Article 3
Indigenous (read: Natives of North America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis)
peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of
that right they freely determine their political status and freely
pursue their economic, social and cultural development.
Article 4
Indigenous (read: Natives of North America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis)
peoples, in exercising their right to self-determination,
have the right to autonomy or self-government in matters relating to
their internal and local affairs, as well as ways and means for
financing their autonomous functions.
Article 5
Indigenous (read: Natives of North America, Indian, Inuit, and Metis)
peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their
distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions,
while retaining their right to participate fully, if they so choose, in
the political, economic, social and cultural life of the State.
Article 6
Every Indigenous (read: Natives of North America, Indian, Inuit, and
Metis) individual has the right to a nationality.
