At its monthly meeting on Friday 9 December 2011, the Ngāti Kuri Trust Board resolved to endorse the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the “DRIP”).
Click here to view a copy of the DRIP.
The DRIP establishes a universal and comprehensive framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity, well-being and rights of the world’s indigenous peoples. It addresses both individual and collective rights; cultural rights and identity; rights to education, health, employment, language, and others. The DRIP confirms the right of indigenous peoples to self-determination and recognizes subsistence rights and rights to lands, territories and resources. It outlaws discrimination against indigenous peoples and promotes their full and effective participation in all matters that concern them. It also ensures their right to remain distinct and to pursue their own priorities in economic, social and cultural development.
The DRIP was drafted and formally debated for over twenty years prior to being adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13 September 2007.
While UN Declarations are generally not legally binding, the DRIP nonetheless has a binding effect for the promotion, respect and fulfillment of the rights of indigenous peoples worldwide. It represents the dynamic development of international legal standards and reflects the commitment of states to move in certain directions, abiding by certain principles. In this sense, it is a very valuable tool for Māori.
For more information on the DRIP, you can visit this Frequently Asked Questions page, or see the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues site.