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United Nations adoptes Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples

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On 13 September 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a landmark declaration outlining the rights of the world’s estimated 370 million indigenous people and outlawing discrimination against them following more than two decades of debate. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has been approved after 143 Member States voted in favour, 11 abstained and four voted against the text. The non-binding Declaration sets out the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples, as well as their rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health, education and other issues.

The Declaration emphasizes the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions and to pursue their development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations. It addresses the rights of indigenous peoples to participate in decision-making processes, including “in matters that would affect their rights” (article 18), “the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for exercising their right to development” (article 23), and “the right to protection and conservation of the environment and the productive capacity of their lands or territories and resources” (article 29).
 
The Declaration further states that “Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop…manifestations of their sciences, technologies and cultures, including human and genetic resources….” It encompasses “the right to…develop their intellectual property” (article 31).

Agencies of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations are called upon to contribute to the full realization of the provisions of the Declaration through provision of financial assistance and technical assistance.

[Source: UN News Centre, United Nations adopts Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples.]
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