Thread by @IndigenousX

It’s late and I’m competing w Qanda lols. But as we wrap up the International day it would be good to reflect on the utility of international law and Indigenous peoples advocacy at the UN. #IndigenousDay 
#IndigenousPeoplesDay 
#SomosIndígenas 
#DíaPueblosIndígenas 
#autochtones

It’s fair to say that the RDA has been the most important piece of legislation for our peoples rights in Aus. It is the domestic expression of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/ce…

It sets up a framework of non-discrimination and substantive equality that has been transformative. The suspension of the Act or provisions of the Act has occurred in relation to cultural heritage, native title and NTER. Although it’s not always clear.

Certainly the development of an international normative framework on on non-discrimination and equality in its declaration and the convention form influenced much in Aus politics including the dismantling of the protection regime and infrastructure and the 1967 referendum.

The human rights system can be seen as divided into two ways, Treaty based human rights and UN Charter based hr. RDA falls under the Treaty system. Indigenous people’s mechanisms at the UN such as the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is a Charter based body under ECOSOC.

The day that the UN International day is based upon is the beginning day for the WGIP. The WGIP was an extraordinarily productive working group that led to the establishment of a UN day, UN year, UN decade - all UN General Assembly resolutions. These are education tools.

The WGIP also saw the drafting of a draft declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples which led to the DRIP as adopted by the General Assembly in 2007. It saw the creation of UNPFII and the UN special rapporteur on indigenous peoples rights.

This day really does recognise the astute work of Indigenous peoples globally in their lobbying and advocacy at the United Nations. The development and adoption of the UNDRIP was a significant triumph for a utterly conservative system such as international law.