The fifth anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are unquestionably very confused about how the State has addressed, or is to address, implementation of the Declaration.

Greater effort is needed to describe government priorities and administrative actions against the specific human rights articles in the Declaration.

There can be no doubt that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia have a high level of awareness of the existence of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and an appreciation that the United Nations will continue to examine the exercise of the rights and freedoms of indigenous peoples of the world.

This has been amply demonstrated during the past five years by many UN reports which address Australia and the rights of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

However, a shortcoming is the lack of clear understanding amongst our population of the specific rights expressed in the Declaration, or the correlation of such rights with articles in the ratified international human rights treaties.

Specifically, the definition of ‘peoples’ is not understood, and is often misinterpreted.

The term ‘peoples’ must be understood in the context of international law and global governance.

More clear understanding of how the right of self-determination is manifested and exercised is important, to avoid disunity between sub-groups and over-reach of sectarian interests.

At the national level there are calls for a comprehensive program for raising awareness and understanding of the Declaration by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Correspondingly there must be increased efforts to generate awareness across the various agencies of government to ensure that the particular and relevant provisions of the UN Declaration are appreciated and lead to revision of laws, policies and programs.

The Australian Human Rights Commission is collaborating with the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples and the Indigenous Peoples Organisations to implement a national strategy for increased awareness and understanding of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Looking back we must remember how it has taken so long to have our rights as indigenous peoples recognised in global governance and international law.

Five years on, it is time for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be more vigorous in exercising these rights and freedoms.