Thousands gathered in Australia on Sunday to support a campaign aimed at recognizing the country's Indigenous peoples in the constitution, ahead of a referendum set to take place later this year, following a recent decline in support for this initiative.
The referendum, likely to be held between October and December, seeks to amend the constitution and establish an advisory body called the "Voice of Indigenous Peoples in Parliament," to provide Indigenous peoples and Torres Strait Islanders with a direct say in policies affecting them.
The left-leaning Labor government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, supports the proposed constitutional amendment, while the conservative opposition coalition is urging voters to reject it.
The rallies come after polls indicated a drop in support for the amendments; a survey conducted last month showed that 51% of voters opposed the amendment for the first time, compared to 49% in favor.
Opponents of the amendments, including some Indigenous peoples, argue that the proposal lacks detail and could lead to division among Australians.
Indigenous peoples in the country, who make up 3.8% of the population, face issues such as discrimination, inadequate health and education services, and high incarceration rates.
