The Human Rights Council of the United Nations adopted the International Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on 29 June 2006.

This is a major success in the 12 years effort by indigenous peoples of the world to get the draft declaration adopted by General Assembly, the next and final step in process.

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples says indigenous peoples have the right to the full enjoyment, as a collective or as individuals, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms as recognised in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights law.

It also says that indigenous peoples and individuals are free and equal to all other peoples and individuals and have the right to be free from any kind of discrimination, in the exercise of their rights in particular that based on their indigenous origin or identity.

Indigenous peoples have also the rights of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. Indigenous peoples have the rights to participate fully, if they so choose, in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the State.

The result of the vote was as follows:

In fovour (30):
Azerbaijan, Brazil, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Uruguay, Zambia, United Kingdom or Great Britain and Northen Ireland.

Against (2):
Canada and Rusian Federation.

Abstentions (12):
Algeria, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Ghana, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Philipines, Senegal, Tunisia and Ukraine.

Absent (3):
Djibouti, Gabon and Mali.

(The United States of America is not a member of the Human Rights Council)