Statement of Support to Aboriginal people in Australia
The Sydney Peace Foundation recognises the fundamental rights of Indigenous peoples to self-determination on the principles of peace with justice. We give our support to Aboriginal people in Australia struggling against overt, punitive policies of assimilation such as the Northern Territory Intervention, the denial of essential services to force relocation from Aboriginal lands and severe funding cuts to Aboriginal organisations.
At a recent public forum organised by Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney to mark the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination at which Senior Alyawarr/Arrente woman Rosalie Kunoth-Monks spoke along with other Aboriginal leaders in support of a treaty between Indigenous peoples and the Australian government, which would guarantee the right to self-determination.
We support this call.
As actress Kylie Belling says in a recent campaign video calling for a Treaty presented at the forum:
“We are Sovereign peoples, who have never ceded our land. We want to take control over our lives and determine our futures… the time is long overdue for governments to sit down with Aboriginal people across Australia and negotiate agreements and return to us our rights.”
In addition, the Sydney Peace Foundation enthusiastically supports the present move towards constitutional recognition and considers it an important step on the road towards a meaningful treaty.