Posted on 26 October 2023
On 14 October, Australia voted against adjusting the nation’s constitution to acknowledge the rights of Indigenous people. 60% of Australian’s voted no in a referendum proposing the creation of an advisory body named “Indigenous Voice to Parliament.”
This week, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has spoken out on the result, saying “I am deeply disappointed at the missed opportunity to officially recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Australia’s Constitution and give them a greater voice alongside the country’s Parliament.”
“Realizing rights to equality, to self-determination and to participation of Indigenous Peoples in decisions that affect them, including through their self-governing bodies, remains central to Australia’s future – and is reinforced by Australia’s international human rights obligations,” he stated.