Support for UN Declaration an Important Step Towards Closing the Gap
Reconciliation Australia Co-Chair Mark Leibler has welcomed today’s statement of support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples issued by the Australian Government.
Mr Leibler, a Melbourne-based senior lawyer, said the language in the statement demonstrated the Government’s recognition that Australia will not achieve better outcomes for its Indigenous citizens without building mutually respectful and trusting relationships.
“The Declaration provides a framework for countries with different histories and circumstances to reduce levels of disadvantage and discrimination,” said Mr Leibler. “It includes valuable guiding principles that, where followed, will undoubtedly help Indigenous and other Australians work together more respectfully and far more effectively than we have in the past.”
Mr Leibler paid tribute to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians who had worked for many years alongside Indigenous peoples from across the globe to develop and promote the Declaration. “My fellow Co-Chair at Reconciliation Australia, Professor Mick Dodson, is one of those people. He was involved in the crafting of the text and I know that today, as an official representative of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, he is absolutely elated.
“There are critics of the role of human rights frameworks who claim they have no practical value in overturning disadvantage. But the reality is that the rights set out in the Declaration have meaningful application in closing the gap in Australia. Every one them is directly or indirectly associated with getting improved outcomes for people in health, education, employment and every other area of disadvantage.”
Mr Leibler said the principles set out in the Declaration were based on evidence of approaches that have worked in promoting better results around the world. “They prioritise the dignity and aspirations of Indigenous people, and give them a leading role in working together with others to close the gaps.”
Reconciliation Australia’s simple fact sheet on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples can be found here.
Media contact: Claire Tedeschi at Reconciliation Australia on 0418 633 277
