US, Last Holdout on Native Rights Declaration, Reverses Stand
Syndicated from Common Dreams on Fri, 2010-12-17
WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama announced Thursday he was reversing the U.S.'s position and endorsing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The reversal comes three years after the U.N. adopted the measure in 2007, despite being opposed by the U.S., under then-president George W. Bush, as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The latter three have since endorsed the declaration, leaving the U.S. alone in its opposition.
Thursday's announcement means no countries remain opposed to the treaty, though some remain as abstainers.