Thanks to those who signed on to call for the implementation of UNDRIP, and for standing with us to fight for our Rights.
It is time to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Read the Open Letter to the Australian Parliament signed by over 80 human rights experts, First Peoples, allies, and NGOs calling for the implementation of UNDRIP
About UNDRIP
On 13 September 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
In 2009, the Federal Government stated its support for the Declaration.
It is now 2023 and no government in this country has taken action to implement UNDRIP.
The Declaration contains 46 articles describing a variety of collective and individual rights. It identifies states and governments as responsible for protecting and upholding these rights. It outlines First Peoples rights to our own political structures. Its goal is to defend the survival, dignity and well‐being of Indigenous peoples.
UNDRIP defines specific rights related to Indigenous identities, livelihoods and ways of knowing and being in the world.
The central themes of UNDRIP include:
- the right to self‐determination;
- the right to be recognized as distinct peoples;
- the right to free, prior and informed consent;
- the right to be free from discrimination.
In 2017, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples described the Federal Government’s “failure to respect the right to self-determination and the right to full and effective participation” as “alarming.”
In 2021, more than 30 countries at a UN human rights session condemned this country’s high rate of incarceration of Indigenous children.
In November 2022 the UN Committee Against Torture condemned this country’s failure to protect human rights and described the over-representation of First Nations people in detention as “horrific”.
The 2021 Australian Human Rights report outlined how the Federal Government has failed to implement the UNDRIP into law, policy and practice; has not negotiated with a National Action Plan to implement the UNDRIP with First Peoples; and has not audited existing laws, policies and practice for compliance with the UNDRIP.
It is time for this country to implement UNDRIP to create a benchmark and foundation for First Nations rights to be respected and protected.
Find out more and read the declaration at the Australian Human Rights Commission website.
Read the Bill I currently have before Parliament here
Find out more about the UNDRIP Inquiry, and read the report when it is released here
The Petition calling on the Australian Government to implement UNDRIP has now closed. You can still sign up for regular updates here.