News Release 2006 Amnesty International Canada
AMR 20/C08/2006
9 November 2021
"UN Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Government efforts to block
progress
at odds with the Canadian public"
An independent public opinion poll commissioned by Amnesty International shows
that the vast majority of Canadians expect their government to support international
standards for the protection of the human rights of Indigenous peoples.
The poll's findings are at odds with the actual role that Canadian
officials have recently played within the United Nations.
In June, Canada joined with a tiny minority of states, led by the
USA, in an unsuccessful campaign to delay adoption of the Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the new UN Human Rights Council.
The Declaration is now before the UN General Assembly where Canadian
officials have said they will vote against the Declaration despite
its being widely supported by other states and by Indigenous peoples
from around the world.
According to the
poll results, more than 70 percent of Canadians feel that the UN
should do more
to protect the human rights of Indigenous
peoples around the world. More than forty-five percent of those who
felt the UN should do more, said that it was "very important" that
it do so.
More than 72 percent of those surveyed said that Canada should support
the development of international laws and standards protecting the
rights of Indigenous peoples, event if this meant some of Canada's
current or historic laws and practices come under criticism or had
to be changed.
More than 80 percent
of Canadians said they would be concerned if Canada failed to support
such standards, with more than one-third (34%)
saying they would be "very concerned."
High levels of concern over Canada's support for international standards
for the rights of Indigenous peoples was expressed in every region
of the country and among supporters of all four political parties represented
in the House of Commons.
"Canadians know that international action to protect the rights
of Indigenous peoples is sorely needed. They realize and accept that
may mean making changes here in Canada," said Alex Neve, Secretary
General of Amnesty International Canada. "Simply put, they do
not want their government to stand in the way of Indigenous peoples
being able to enjoy their fundamental rights, in Canada and around
the world. The government should now do what Canadians expect and vote
in favour of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples when
it comes before the UN General Assembly."
To conduct the poll, Strategic Communications Inc interviewed a random
national sample of 1,112 Canadian adults. The poll, which was conducted
according to industry standard methods for scientific survey research,
has a margin of error of 2.9%, 19-times-of-20.
Background
The UN Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples provides general guidelines for
governments
and state institutions around the world
to counter racism and discrimination against Indigenous peoples and
to promote their "dignity, survival and well-being."
The Declaration has been under development for more than 20 years.
Canada played an important leadership role in the UN working group
that finalized the text. By working in collaboration with Indigenous
peoples Canada was able to advance a number of key provisions that
addressed state concerns and built support for its adopt
However, since the election of the Conservative government, Canadian
officials lobbied to have the Declaration re-opened for further negotiation
and to encourage other states to oppose its adoption.
Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice has stated publicly that the
Declaration conflicts with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
but has never substantiated this extraordinary claim. The Minister
has also said that the Declaration could lead to criticism of past
and current Canadian laws and policies.
In fact, expert bodies of the United Nations have repeatedly criticized
Canada's treatment of Indigenous peoples as incompatible with existing
obligations under international human rights treaties.
The Declaration was adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in June.
Canada and Russia were the only Council members to vote against it.
The Declaration is currently under consideration in a committee of
the UN General Assembly and is expected to come to vote before the
General Assembly before the end of the year.