Public Asked to Sign Petition for UN Declaration

Public Asked to Sign Petition for UN Declaration

Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 15:08

Canada’s First Nations leaders are asking all Canadians to pressure the Conservative government into signing on to the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Assembly of First Nations national chief Shawn Atleo and chiefs across the country are inviting Canadians to sign a petition calling on Canada to join the U.N. declaration.

The U.N. adopted the declaration on September 13, 2007, after almost 20 years of work by Indigenous groups around the world.

It contains minimal standards for the survival of Indigenous peoples.

It was adopted by 143 nations, with only four voting against.

Since then, Australia has changed its position, and New Zealand and the United States will re-examine their positions, leaving Canada alone in its opposition to the declaration.

The online petition can be found at www.apnql-afnql.com.