UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Statement by Mr James Choi, Second Secretary,
Australian Mission to the United Nations, to the United Nations
Third Committee
Item 106: International Decade of the World's Indigenous People
New York
21 October 2002
Mr Chairman
Australia welcomes the opportunity to address the Third Committee on the activities of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People. The Australian delegation supports efforts to better recognise, protect and promote the rights of indigenous peoples throughout the world. We believe that the International Decade is an important means to this end.
The inaugural meeting of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in May 2002 was a significant and important event. We now have an effective arid representative body within the UN that allows the voice of indigenous peoples to be heard. The Permanent Forum will play a valuable role in coordinating UN activity on indigenous issues and ensure that the perspectives and interests of indigenous peoples can be integrated into the broader UN agenda.
Mr Chairman
Member states, through resolutions at the Commission on Human Rights, the Economic and Social Council and the UN General Assembly, have confirmed their support for the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Consistent with the mandate we have given the Permanent Forum, we believe that states should support appropriate measures that will allow it to function effectively and take forward its mandate. Australia sees it as essential that the Permanent Forumn be provided with an operational Secretariat for its next meeting in May 2003.
Another key focus of the Decade has been the elaboration of a draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. Australia recognises the critical importance accorded by many of the world's indigenous peoples to an instrument articulating their human rights. Australia is an active participant in the inter-governmental working group that is taking forward negotiations of this instrument. We urge all parties to engage constructively in negotations, with a view to developing a suitable and effective instrument by the end of the Indigenous Decade.
Australia's support for the activities of the Indigenous Decade is based on our strong interest in ensuring that we, as member states, and the UN protect and promote the rights of indigenous peoples. At the same time, Australia continues to believe that all UN mechanisms, including those dealing with indigenous issues, need to be efficient and effective. In that context, we remain concerned with the clear overlap between various existing UN mechanisms dealing with indigenous issues.
At a time when the budgetary situation is tight, we believe that these mechanisms need to be streamlined. Australia therefore supports the review of UN indigenous mechanisms as mandated by ECOSOC. We believe that this review needs to be initiated by an impartial body in an expeditious manner.
Mr Chairman
Australia's approach to indigenous issues at the international level is matched by our commitment to addressing indigenous issues domestically. The Australian Government acknowledges that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are still the most disadvantaged group in Australian society. The Australian Government is determined to rectify this problem.
The Australian Government is aiming for a future in which Indigenous Australians share equitably in the social and economic opportunities that Australia offers. It is committed to addressing the specific needs in the priority areas of health, housing, employment and education, as well as building the capacity of individuals, families and communities to take advantage of opportunities for improved economic, social and cultural participation in Australian society. Indigenous-specific expenditure will rise to a record $2.5billion in 2002/2003, reflecting the commitment of the Australian Government to addressing the underlying causes of indigenous disadvantage.
The Australian Government's national commitment to reducing disadvantage is founded on a partnership with Indigenous people. Our policies are based on the principle that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should have greater opportunities for exercising meaningful control over their affairs and an effective voice in decision making on matters which directly affect them. This reflects the Government determination to achieve practical reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.
Mr Chairman
Australia is a culturally diverse and tolerant society. We derive strength from our multicultural heritage. Our society is founded upon mutual respect and compassion and a commitment to the active promotion and protection of human rights for all. However, indigenous disadvantage is a reality in Australia and in other states. Australia is committed to reducing indigenous advantage domestically. We urge all states to work in partnership with their indigenous peoples to contribute to efforts, in the context of the Indigenous Decade, to promote and protect the rights indigenous peoples and resolve the problems common to indigenous peoples throughout the world.