Earlier this month, Parliament passed legislation that provides a framework for the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in Canada.

The legislation includes the development of an action plan and annual progress reports.

In a statement from the UN Rights Office in Geneva, a spokesperson said, “The adoption of this new law represents a historic development in Canada, as it establishes a strong framework for the recognition and protection of indigenous peoples’ rights in accordance with international standards. … The real test will be to ensure that the inequalities, discrimination and violence that Indigenous peoples have suffered over time are swiftly and effectively addressed. Active and meaningful participation by Indigenous peoples in this process, and in all issues that concern them, should also be ensured.”

There will be a visit to Canada by the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) later this year.