Action Area 4: Justice and Human Rights
Focus Area B: Law Reform
Advocate for the adoption and full implementation of UNDRIP at all levels of government.
City of St. John’s, Government of Canada, City of Mount Pearl: Work underway to implement UNDRIP
As noted in the 2024 Reconciliation Report, the City of St. John’s and the Government of Canada have made commitments to implement UNDRIP.
In September 2024, the City of Mount Pearl issued a declaration in support of truth and reconciliation. This declaration commits the city to supporting and promoting the principles of UNDRIP.
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador: No progress yet
Since the 2024 Reconciliation Report, there has been no change in the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador with regard to this Call for Change. The province has yet to endorse or adopt UNDRIP, and in some cases has actively resisted core principles of the international human rights instrument. This has been the case particularly with policymaking that is inconsistent with Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).
For the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador:
- Make a commitment in principle to adopt UNDRIP and develop an implementation plan in collaboration with all Indigenous groups in the province, including urban Indigenous communities.
For the City of St. For municipalities of the Northeast Avalon:
- Allocate appropriate resources in the upcoming budget cycle to provide research and policy development support for the Metro Reconciliation Partnership to create a comprehensive multiyear work plan.
Action Area 4: Justice and Human Rights
We envision a city and a province where urban Indigenous people enjoy equal protection of the law and equal access to justice. To realize this vision, First Voice calls on all residents of St. John’s to help advance change in the following ways: