Sixth Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

September 12 marked the sixth anniversary of the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. KAIROS has endorsed a Joint Statement that marks this anniversary – Indigenous Peoples have the right to make decisions about the development of their lands. When KAIROS joined Indigenous peoples and civil society partners in campaigning for Canada to endorse the Declaration, it emphasized the need to recognize Indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination. The Declaration affirms that States must obtain the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of Indigenous peoples before proceeding with resource development projects on their traditional territories. While the Canadian government’s refusal to recognize Indigenous peoples’ right to FPIC is disappointing, KAIROS and allied groups continue to press for full implementation of the Declaration.