The Director of the Australian National University’s National Centre for Indigenous Studies, Professor Mick Dodson AM, has been appointed for a further three years to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Chubb said the reappointment was testament to Professor Dodson’s leadership in Indigenous affairs in Australia and internationally.

“Professor Dodson is a well respected academic and community leader,” Professor Chubb said.

“Over the past decade he has made an outstanding contributing to the drafting of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that is currently under consideration by the United Nations General Assembly.

“Professor Dodson’s continued role with the UN enhances and enriches his contribution to the University.”

Professor Dodson said he was honoured to continue his work with the UN and to see the Declaration implemented.

 “I am very honoured to be reappointed to the Permanent Forum enabling me to continue my contribution to the important work of the Forum. The biggest challenge this year for the Permanent Forum and the Indigenous peoples of the world is to get the United Nations General Assembly to adopt the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

“The Forum is a vital place for the Indigenous peoples of the world to connect with the United Nations system and use that system to assist them in overcoming the many social, economic, environmental and human rights challenges confronting their communities and families. I’m pleased to be small part of assisting in meeting those challenges. 

“Of course the flexibility of my employment at the ANU and the support of the Vice-Chancellor, makes my engagement within the United Nations possible.”

Professor Dodson was the Co-Deputy Chair of the Technical Committee for the 1993 International Year of the World’s Indigenous People. He was also chairman of the United Nations Advisory Group for the Voluntary Fund for the 1st Decade of Indigenous Peoples and served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Indigenous Voluntary Fund.

He was Australia’s first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. He is also a board member of the Reconciliation Australia and Lingiari Foundations. Prof Dodson is the Forum’s current rapporteur.

For further information: Jane O’Dwyer, ANU Media Office, 02 6125 5001 or 0416 249 231