By RIA Novosti
United Nations : The UN General Assembly, after more than 20 years of deliberations, has adopted a declaration on the right of indigenous peoples to maintain their own institutions, cultures and spiritual traditions.
Thursday’s non-binding declaration calls on states to prevent or redress the forced migration of indigenous peoples, the seizure of their land and their forced integration into other cultures.
It also gives native peoples control over their religious and cultural sites and the right to determine their own education system.
The declaration was approved by a vote of 143-4, with 11 abstentions. The US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, which all have large indigenous populations, voted against the declaration, expressing concerns with some of the provisions on self-determination and rights to land and finances.
Russia, which abstained from voting, said the declaration was “unacceptable” for the Russian Federation.
“This marks a historic moment when UN member states and indigenous peoples have reconciled with their painful histories and are resolved to move forward together on the path of human rights, justice and development for all,” a spokesperson for the UN secretary general said.
According to the UN, there are more than 370 million native people in the world, living in more than 70 countries. Many of the smaller groups are currently in danger of dying out entirely.