Few people in the world are in greater need of human rights protection
than Indigenous peoples. Globally, about 370 million Indigenous people
face widespread systemic discrimination, impoverishment, ill health,
and dispossession of lands and resources. Although governments have
a duty and responsibility to ensure the welfare and safety of all
their citizens, Indigenous peoples are often the target of policies
designed to erode or suppress their rights and distinct cultural identities.
And Canada is no exception.
Indigenous peoples are entitled to the same human rights as
other peoples and are supposed to be protected by existing international
human rights covenants, such as the Conventions on Civil and Political
Rights and Economic, Cultural and Social Rights, Racial Discrimination
and Rights of the Child.
For years Indigenous peoples and human rights and social justice
organizations have used these international human rights instruments
to advocate for Aboriginal rights and justice. Over the next two
years KAIROS will focus on the UN Draft Declaration on Indigenous
Peoples and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
and Canada’s compliance with it.
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