Latest News (212)
Global statement by Indigenous Women for the Generation Equality Forum and beyond
12 March 2021, 12:35 pm Written by FIMI, AIWN, AIWO-OAFA, NATSIWA, AMICYM, ECMIA, CONAMIWe, Indigenous Women from North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, Arctic, and Pacific, reaffirm the progress made in the last twenty-five years within the framework of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. In 1995, we adopted and signed the Beijing Declaration of Indigenous Women that establishes the basis of our claims as Indigenous Women worldwide.
We highlight our contributions to sustainable development, the conservation and preservation of biodiversity and natural resources, the resilience building against global crisis like COVID-19, based on our cosmovision, wisdom, spirituality, knowledge, innovations and practices as agents of change. We also acknowledge some of the international and national legal and political recognitions regarding our individual and collective rights, as well as our organizational advancements such as our common agendas put into action to achieve gender equality and wellbeing.
However, we continue facing challenges that limit us from exercising our full and effective rights. In particular, we are still experiencing multiple levels of structural and systemic violence and discrimination, increasing aggressive appropriation of our territories by the States and transnational corporations, the contamination of soils and water sources with chemicals that affect health and the biodiversity, the impact of colonization, globalization, militarization of territories, the forced displacement and migration, the criminalization and repression of social protest, including gender-based attacks, the exploitation and trafficking of Indigenous Women in border areas.
Therefore, we urge the States, United Nations Agencies, development partners, private sector and the civil society to reinforce actions focused on the following priorities for Indigenous Women, Youth and Girls:
Human Rights
1. Ratify all human rights legal instruments and effectively implement the UNDRIP at the national level prioritizing technical and financial resources within national budgets in order to take effective measures, in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Women to protect, promote and fulfill our human rights and fundamental freedoms with cultural relevance.
2. Promote the adoption of the new General Recommendation on Indigenous Women and Girls by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
3. Strengthen policies and holistic programs to counteract the economic, social and environmental impacts that COVID-19 has had on our Peoples and communities, with a greater impact on Indigenous Women and Girls.
4. To ensure that Indigenous Women exercise their inalienable right to self-determination, autonomy, free mobility, ownership of the ancestral lands and territories, decolonization and depatriarchalizing of national policies, cooperation and development agencies.
5. Guarantee access to water as a primary action to protect the existence of Indigenous communities living in arid and desert areas as a result of climate change.
6. Guarantee inclusive public policies that promote Indigenous economies to overcome the subsistence category and break with paradigms of “vulnerable groups”.
Education and Health
7. Eliminate barriers to education and sexual and reproductive health services for Indigenous Women. These services must be designed considering the customary and traditional medicine with Indigenous Women’s perspective. It is crucial to adopt decisive actions on issues of maternal mortality, child marriage, teenage pregnancy, abortion, female genital mutilation, discrimination, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS.
8. Ensure access to quality education and health culturally and linguistically appropriate with the full participation of Indigenous Women, and incorporate new responsive technologies. Quality education involves a horizontal and complementary intersection between Indigenous traditional knowledge and universal learning strategies. States should also guarantee inclusive education with attention to Indigenous Women, Youth and Girls with disabilities.
9. Guarantee the right of Indigenous Peoples to revitalize, use, develop and transmit to future generations their histories, languages, oral traditions, philosophies, writing systems, and indigenous art.
10. Facilitate access to technology for indigenous children and youth in remote urban and rural areas, so that they have access to education within the current context.
Violence against Women
11. Design and implement policies and programs with unified and consolidated approaches to prevent, investigate and sanction all forms of individual and collective violence committed against Indigenous Women and Girls, including those with disabilities.
12. Strengthen measures, systems and resources to effectively address all forms of violence against Indigenous Women such as female genital mutilation, child marriage, sexual abuse, forced labor, modern slavery, domestic, institutional and political violence, environmental violence and its impact to the health, economic displacement, exploitation, trafficking, armed conflicts, militarization of Indigenous lands and territories, among others.
13. States should create mechanisms to guarantee access to justice for Indigenous Women and Girls, both in State-operated and in Indigenous judicial institutions. These mechanisms must combat impunity in cases of violence and discrimination against Indigenous women, through effective criminal investigations that bring perpetrators to justice and ensure that crimes are duly sanctioned.
14. Stop criminalization of Indigenous traditional knowledge, skills, technologies and practices.
15. To effectively address the aggressive economic development approaches resulting in further poverty of indigenous women and girls, making them more vulnerable to all kinds of exploitation and trafficking. States and development agencies should desist from ecologically and socially destructive development initiatives in indigenous territories.
Indigenous Women in power and decision making
16. There is an urgent need to improve the political, social, economic and health conditions of Indigenous Women and their families. This requires parity with racial-ethnic approach as part of substantive equality in the power structures of States and in all policy discussions on issues concerning them directly. Particularly, on priorities related to political participation in decision making, policy formulation, and implementation and monitoring, as well as large-scale development projects that have a direct impact on land and territories.
17. States should ensure the full and meaningful participation of Indigenous Women, Youth and Girls during the national, regional and international processes with free, prior and informed consent in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This includes decision-making on mechanisms, action plans and budgetary allocations.
18. States, regional intergovernmental bodies, the international community and the Indigenous Peoples’ self-government institutions, should provide technical assistance and sufficient funding to Indigenous Women’s organizations at the local, national and international levels and involve them in meaningful political decision-making processes.
UN General Assembly adopts resolution on “Rights of indigenous peoples”
7 January 2021, 3:50 pm Written by UN DESA30 December 2020
On 16 December 2020, the UN General Assembly adopted without a vote the resolution on “Rights of indigenous peoples” (document A/75/475).
Among other issues, the resolution includes:
The Assembly decided to convene a high‑level event in 2022 for the launch of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages and further, requested the President of the General Assembly President to support initiatives relevant to the successful celebration of the International Decade, within existing resources;
Called upon Member States to ensure the protection for indigenous peoples affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent all forms of discrimination, especially in the context of timely, universal, inclusive, equitable and non-discriminatory access to safe, quality, effective and affordable health care and services;
Decided to continue the consideration of possible further measures necessary to enhance the participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives and institutions in relevant United Nations meetings on issues affecting them at the 76th session, as originally requested in resolution 71/321.
This resolution was approved by the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) on 19 November 2020. Bolivia and Ecuador were the co-facilitators for the resolution.
Source: https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/news/2020/12/ga75_ipresolution/
FIMI Report: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Lives of Indigenous Women and their Strategies to Deal with the Pandemic
24 November 2020, 2:05 pm Written by Maribeth BugtongIndigenous women’s realities: Insights from the Indigenous Navigator
23 November 2020, 10:48 am Written by International Labor OrganizationThe result of a collective and community-led data-gathering exercise relying on the Indigenous Navigator framework and tools, this report identifies and discusses the experiences, needs, concerns and aspirations of indigenous women in 11 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The report sheds light on inequalities and intersecting forms of discrimination affecting indigenous women, which placed them in a particularly vulnerable situation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these persisting challenges, reported experiences testify to Indigenous women’s role as leading actors in building resilience.
Read the report at https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/indigenous-tribal/WCMS_760038/lang--en/index.htm
Take action: 10 ways you can help end violence against women, even during a pandemic
18 November 2020, 4:01 pm Written by UN WomenIn 2020, COVID-19 touched our lives in nearly every way, everywhere, as countries went into lockdown and restricted movement to contain the spread of the virus. As doors closed and isolation began, reports of all forms of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, began to rise.
The pandemic of violence against women is not new. Even before COVID-19 hit us, globally, 243 million women and girls were abused by their intimate partners in the past year. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the violence, even as support services faltered and accessing help became harder.
As we mark the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign (25 November – 10 December), UN Women is joining hands with survivors, activists, decision-makers, the UN system, and people from every walk of life, to shine a light on the need for funding, essential services, prevention and data that shapes better-informed responses.
Ending violence against women is everyone’s business.
Here are just ten ways you can make a difference, safely and impactfully.
1. Listen to and believe survivors
When a woman shares her story of violence, she takes the first step to breaking the cycle of abuse.
It’s on all of us to give her the safe space she needs to speak up and be heard.
It’s important to remember that when discussing cases of sexual violence, a victim’s sobriety, clothes, and sexuality are irrelevant.
The perpetrator is the sole reason for assault and must bear the responsibility alone. Call out victim-blaming and counter the idea that it’s on women to avoid situations that might be seen as “dangerous” by traditional standards.
Survivors of violence are speaking out more than ever before, and everyone has a role to play to ensure they can have justice.
Don’t say, “Why didn’t she leave?”
Do say: “We hear you. We believe you. We stand with you.”
Read more at https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/11/compilation-take-action-to-help-end-violence-against-women
Submission to the UNSRIP on Indigenous Women in Asia and COVID-19 Pandemic
3 July 2020, 3:50 pm Written by Eleanor Dictaan-Bang-oa (AIWN Secretariat)SUBMISSION[1] TO THE UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RE : REPORT ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC
Most states in Asia are at classified at medium risk based on the COVID-19 Risk Indexof the UN Office of the Commissioner on Human Rights. Classified as high risk countries are Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh based on several factors like hazard and exposure, inequality, aid dependency, socio-economic vulnerability, health conditions, food security and gender-based violence among others. This report is particular on indigenous women where the Asia Indigenous Women’s Network and Tebtebba have partners providing information based on their experiences and observations from working closely with indigenous women and their communities on the ground. Inputs come from Nepal, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines.
Indigenous peoples make up 75% of Asia’s population but are not reflected in most statistics including in the COVID – 19 monitoring by states. State reports to the public only contain age, sex, place of residence and history of travel of COVID 19 patients.
Indigenous peoples in Asia are generally unrecognized except in some countries where there are varying degrees of recognition i.e. Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Taiwan and Japan among others. Nonetheless, recognition by law is far different from effective and actual practice on the ground. In this context, indigenous women have preexisting and persistent vulnerabilities due to their history of discrimination as indigenous peoples, as women and as part of the poor sector of the society. This has put them in a generally marginalized situation even before the pandemic.
This lack of recognition reflects on the level of documentation of indigenous peoples in some countries in the region. In Thailand, while the national ID system is in place, there are still a large number of indigenous peoples, most women and children, who are not documented due to problems of access and inefficient reach out. Without a national identity card, they cannot access basic state services, including relief services in this pandemic. In the Philippines, some indigenous women and young mothers, were not accounted for in a local relief initiative because they are not in the census list. Similarly, undocumented indigenous migrants would opt not to avail of much needed support and services to avoid complications with their status.
Pandemic and relevant information
Most IP communities have expressed the lack of timely and appropriate information about COVID 19. Most states have adopted the WHO guidelines. Sufficient information, however, did not reach IP communities due to lack of communications infrastructure and the gap in language. Indigenous women, who are generally lacking skills in the national language would depend on secondary information. Partners have cited the significant role that indigenous youth played in relaying information using social media and telecommunications. In some countries like Nepal, indigenous and community radio stations were also key players. Recognizing indigenous women as frontliners in domestic and community affairs with their roles as nurturers and carers, EcoHimal-Nepal positioned an information space near a community well to provide information on COVID-19 and protection measures to each and every woman who comes to draw water. Women and girls, in the said community, are primarily responsible for fetching water daily aside from other tasks like laundry.
Health
Indigenous families are usually extended. Women are expected to be in charge of domestic concerns i.e. food and health care which extends to parents/parents-in-laws, younger siblings and disabled members of the family, if there are and even if they are in different households. While women take these on without qualms, the disruption of daily lifeways and the ensuing anxiety creates more pressure on women as they try to perform their multiple tasks. Added to this is the remedial strategies to cope with the interruption of schools. Modular and online platforms have been resorted to which poses a big challenge to the capacities and confidence of mothers to assist children in their academics, not to mention, the capacity to avail, access and operate online platforms.
Raila, from the Bhumia tribe is struggling hard to manage her family with elder in-laws and a child. Her husband has not been able to return from Kerala where he is a wage laborer in a construction firm. She has been dependent on the rice subsidy and Rs 1,000.00 cash support from the government for the last 3 months; Nabina, from Koraput district, has already incurred debt amounting to Rs.1,500.00 to sustain the family needs during the lockdowns. She is hoping for her husband to return soon so she could pay back her loan.
Raila and Nabina are just 2 of the countless elderly women, pregnant women, women who have children with disabilities who have to respond to and act on their multiple role, by themselves, while family members are stranded elsewhere. (Pragati Koraput, Odisha; May 2020)
Health services are generally lacking in indigenous territories and this is one factor of panic and anxiety among indigenous women. In most states, COVID-19-related services are usually found in town centers which is already a barrier for access by indigenous women who do not have capacities and resources. In some areas the state, itself, do not have the capacity for COVID-19 to the benefit of private hospitals which means more costly services for the poor and marginalized.
Food
In indigenous communities with access to their lands and resources, food availability, at least in the short term, is not much of a concern as the access to health services, in case anybody from the community gets infected. While supply and distribution of other goods may have been affected by health measures, indigenous communities are able to go to their farms and water sources, albeit limited and without violating social distancing prescriptions. The longer term effect is more worrying to women. With the agricultural cycle disrupted, food and seed stocks may not last long with the prolonged restrictions. The pandemic struck in during planting and harvest season which means that either they were not able to plant, were not able to harvest or lost income from their harvest. In some indigenous communities engaged in commercial production like the vegetable belt of norther Luzon, there is obviously loss of income due to the closure of markets and non-availability of public transportation. In an agricultural town in Benguet, Philippines, truckloads of tomatoes and other vegetables were left to rot simply because of the travel restrictions. On the other hand, a drought stricken community have already used up their seed stocks for consumption during the lockdown.
Availability and access to food, however, has been more challenging to indigenous communities and families who are dependent on the market, like those in urban and semi-urban areas where traditional agriculture as an alternative form of livelihood may be impossible. While they may be more accessible to relief services, it is also very much competitive based on citizenship and vulnerability status aside from access to relevant information on this services. Despite price regulation for basic commodities, retail prices have increased as function of restricted mobility. Coupled with the decline of prices of local products due to oversupply, indigenous women and their families are pushed to avail of loans. Reports from Indonesia cite indigenous families economically dislocated started selling off their lands to corporate entities.
Food crisis and hunger is most pronounced in communities who have lost their traditional lands and forests like those displaced development projects like roads and dams in Nepal; mines, dams and industrial estates in the Philippines and policies like the recent amendments to India’s Forest Reserve Act.
Discrimination and Racism
Racism has been exposed and heightened in this pandemic. Of the 22 documented incidences of racist attacks against indigenous peoples in North East India documented by the Rights and Risks Analysis Group between 7 February 220 to 23 March 2020, fourteen (14) involved indigenous women and youth. This speaks of the more vulnerable position of indigenous women based on gender. North East Indian have often been referred to by the mainstream population as ‘chinkees’. There were also reports of multiple discrimination from workplace to residence aside from the hazardous work conditions and unsympathetic administration by
Indigenous Naga women, working in hospitals in Kolkata, cited. “ .. they were even not allowed to use lifts or not allowed to come out to buy essential groceries for food;… many felt that they are compromising the patients’ and their own safety as they have “inadequate/ inappropriate PPE, masks, gloves, below-standard safety protocols, etc.; there were also reports of unpaid salaries after hospitals closed. Such hostile situation has pushed 300 Naga women nurse to go home. (INSIDENE, 20 May 2020).
Redtagging
The pandemic has been weaponized to quell dissent. This is evident in the Philippines, Bangladesh and Myanmar. In the Philippines, Covid 19 preventive measures have been undermined to intensify attacks on state critics i.e. media, progressive organizations, leaders of indigenous peoples’ organizations and communities, including indigenous women and youth as has been cited by the UNCHR itself in its latest report. Online and social media platforms have also been intensely used to spread lies and misinformation to discredit dissenters, attack their persons, throw threats including their families.
Development Aggression
Intrusions into indigenous territories and resources as extractive industries, monocrop agro-industrial plantations, among others continued even during the lockdown although at a limited scale. Some indigenous women and youth manning the community barricade have sustained wounds and injuries after police, escorting a mining company’s fuel tanker, dismantled the barricade. The barricade was meant to bar the mining company from reentering the community since its license expired in 2019. It also served as the community checkpoint as per health measures against Covid 19. In Southern Philippines, the overall security and wellbeing of more than 432 Teduray and Lambiangan indigenous peoples in Southern Philippines remains uncertain and exacerbated by the restrictive COVID-19 measures. In March 25, after unidentified armed groups reportedly raided their community, ransacked homes and threatened to burn their houses if they do not leave, these families sought refuge in government facilities near town center. In March 28, the same armed groups were sighted near the evacuation area prompting the IDPs to relocate out of fear. Some have reportedly moved to a municipal gym and a school ground in nearby towns. Others have gone to relatives.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Recovery from the pandemic requires a holistic approach that is inclusive and gender fair, culturally appropriate, based on respect for rights and the sustains the integrity of nature for the future.
Inclusivebecause children, youth elderly and persons with disabilities are generally marginalized;
Gender fair because patriarchy is a persistent barrier to the effective recognition of women and non-binary persons;
Culturally appropriate because global and national strategies are usually not sensitive to indigenous peoples and the gender differences within,
Rights based because the inequalities unveiled by Covid 19 is the continuing gap in all development initiatives disproportionately impacting indigenous women and their communities and
Sustainable because we owe our children their future.
States, donor agencies and stakeholders should:
- Ensure effective recognition of the roles and contribution of indigenous women in sustainable food systems and health care. This includes their knowledge and practice on natural resource management, traditional livelihoods and medicinals. Indigenous women like traditional birth attendants should not be criminalized but given incentives for further enhancement. They can be very effective health care service providers should they be, instead, accommodated to understand mainstream health practice without prejudice to indigenous perspectives. Being part of the community, they are also the in the best place to monitor community health.
- Recognition of women’s ownership and access to land and resources is an enabling factor in advancing and sustaining indigenous women’s roles and livelihoods in the light of recovering from the pandemic and the sustainable development targets.
[1]Report consolidated by the AIWN with reports from AIWN members in the Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal, India
and Thailand; IPAF-AP, UPAKAT and Elatia partners.
Call for inputs Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples to the General Assembly: Impact of COVID-19 on indigenous peoples
16 May 2020, 5:23 pm Written by UN OHCHRPursuant to resolution 42/20 of the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples will dedicate part of his report to the General Assembly to assess and report on the impacts of the COVID 19 on the rights of indigenous peoples. The report will study existing initiatives undertaken by States, indigenous peoples and others to ensure that the rights and specific needs of indigenous peoples are considered and addressed in the fight against the pandemic. It will also identify protection gaps which require Member States and their partners’ attention.
The Special Rapporteur is calling for inputs from Member States, indigenous peoples representatives bodies and organisations, civil society actors, health workers and agencies, national human rights institutions and other stakeholders, to contribute to the preparation of his report, which will be presented to the General Assembly in October 2020.
The Special Rapporteur is concerned that COVID-19 is both highlighting and exacerbating current and ongoing human rights situations faced by many indigenous peoples. This report will enable the Special Rapporteur to collect, present and to bring these critical concerns to the attention of the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council for their consideration and action. Indigenous peoples are over-represented among the poor and suffer higher rates of malnutrition, combined with impacts of environmental contamination and in many cases, lack of access to adequate health care services as a consequence, many have reduced immune systems, respiratory conditions and other health conditions, rendering then particularly vulnerable to the spread of disease.
Curfews, lockdowns, quarantine and other imposed isolation measures imposed as a response to the pandemic may cause additional hardships for access to basic economic, cultural and social rights. Increased State security measures imposed during emergency situations as this may also directly impact indigenous communities.
The impact of COVID-19 on indigenous peoples should be researched and documented to guide States’ responses and to ensure these exceptional times do not exacerbate or justify impunity for violations of indigenous peoples’ rights. Bearing in mind the importance of human cultural diversity and innovation in surviving crises such as pandemics, the national and international COVID-19 responses may also find answers in traditional indigenous knowledge and practices.
The Special Rapporteur will seek to present examples of good practices, of indigenous participation and consultation in implementing solutions and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report will assist States better understand the specific impacts of the crisis, and prepare targeted responses with the participation, vision and approaches of indigenous peoples.
The Special Rapporteur will take stock of emerging guidance on the topic, including the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Guidance Note, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Note on considerations to be given with regards to indigenous peoples during the COVID-19 pandemic, the FAO statement on indigenous peoples’ health and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples statement, and also draw from positions taken at the regional level, such as the press statement by the African Commission’s Working Group on Indigenous and the Inter American Commission’s statement and resolution 1/2020 on Pandemic and Human Rights in the Americas.
Potential issues to be addressed in the report:
- Incidence, mortality rates and increased risk of infection in indigenous communities
- Disparities and obstacles to adequate healthcare, water, sanitation and information, and lack of culturally appropriate and accessible services.
- Participation of indigenous peoples in the elaboration of State and provincial response to the pandemic as well as implementation of programs and policies developed by Indigenous programs and institutions
- Impacts of lockdown, quarantines and other responses on access to food, livelihoods, education and justice
- Availability of information in indigenous languages
- Impact of the pandemic and related responses on indigenous women, elders, children and persons with disabilities.
- Discrimination and disproportionate impacts of State restriction, confinement measures and other pandemic-related policies on indigenous peoples
- Impact of national emergency measures on land security, land tenure and increased vulnerability to land grabbing and imposed development impacting indigenous peoples lands and waters during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Indigenous communities living in voluntary isolation
- Role of indigenous peoples’ healing models and traditional knowledge systems in developing effective responses
Please indicate if any other area should be addressed in the report.
Questionnaire for responses by States, indigenous peoples and other actors:
- How does the State collect and analyse information on the impact of COVID-19 on indigenous peoples and individuals? Is disaggregated data on indigenous peoples, including health impacts, available?
- Please provide information and specific examples showing the increased risks and/or disproportionate health impact of the pandemic on indigenous peoples. What measures have been taken to provide health care and other forms or urgent assistance for remote communities?
- How are indigenous peoples supported in their own initiatives to fight the pandemic, protect health and provide assistance in their own communities? What lessons can be learnt from indigenous traditional practices and community-based programs in lock down and emergency?
- How are indigenous peoples given the possibility to shape the national COVID-19 response to ensure it does not have discriminatory effect on their communities? Is their input sought and respected in the programs that could affect them?
- How is information about COVID-19 and prevention measures disseminated in indigenous communities? Is such information available in indigenous languages?
- Please provide examples of good practices and targeted measures to redress the disproportionate impacts of the pandemic on indigenous peoples’ health. If these are being carried out by State, provincial and local governments, please explain how these measures were designed in consultation and implementing free prior and informed consent with the indigenous peoples concerned in order to ensure that such measures are adapted to the cultural and other specific needs of these indigenous communities.
- Please provide information on the economic, social and cultural impact of lockdowns, quarantines, travel and other restriction of freedom of movement on indigenous communities. Please provide information on measures taken to ensure indigenous communities do not experience discriminatory impacts on their access to livelihoods, food and education. How are indigenous peoples taken into account in the development of assistance and relief programmes? Where are the gaps if any?
- Please provide information on how indigenous women, older persons, children, persons with disabilities and LGBTI persons are or may be facing additional human rights challenges during the pandemic. Please provide information on targeted measures taken to prevent intersecting forms of discrimination, and ensure indigenous women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities and LGBTI persons’ access, protection and services with due regards to their specific needs within indigenous communities.
- Please provide information on how States of emergency may contribute to threats or aggravate ongoing human rights violations against indigenous peoples, including with regards to the freedom of assembly and the protection of their traditional lands and resources. What measures have been taken to protect the lands, territories and resources of indigenous peoples against invasions and land-grabbing by external actors during the pandemic?
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The responses to the above questionnaire can be submitted in English, French or Spanish. Please send your inputs by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 15 June 2020. Please limit your responses to a maximum of 3,000 words. Reports, academic studies and other types of background materials can be attached as annexes to the submission. Please submit your responses in an accessible format, such as MS Word or PDF accessible.
Unless requested otherwise, the submissions may be referenced in the report and briefings of the Special Rapporteur and related information products.
Source: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/SRIndigenousPeoples/Pages/Callforinput_COVID19.aspx
Indigenous communities play a critical role in preventing the emergence of diseases and must be involved in the response to the pandemic
24 April 2020, 2:06 pm Written by Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous PeoplesFor the first time in living memory, the industrialized world understands what it is to be entirely susceptible to disease, as vulnerable as indigenous peoples once were to diseases brought by outsiders who colonized our lands. As vulnerable as many indigenous peoples still are to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Indigenous peoples—and other local communities and Afro-descendants—do not have the same health services or government support as those in cities, even in developed countries like Canada. The virus has ripped through Navajo communities in New Mexico and Arizona largely because of a lack of clean water. Indigenous peoples also have higher rates of chronic health conditions that make us more susceptible.
Five centuries ago, isolation was our solution. It is still our solution today. Worldwide, indigenous and local communities are shutting off roads and blocking waterways to protect our peoples. My community has declared “ubaya,” or lockdown. If COVID-19 reaches our communities, it could wipe us off the map—and it already has reached the Yanomami and Kokama Peoples of the Amazon.
Yet since the outbreak began, I have heard reports from around the world that governments are failing to respond to indigenous leaders requesting health resources—and refusing to support us in isolating ourselves.
In Brazil, the government has put the fate of uncontacted tribes in the hands of a Christian pastor with a mission to evangelize, threatening the tribes’ survival. In French Guiana, illegal miners from Brazil are pouring over the border to invade indigenous lands. In Kenya, the Maasai face potential food shortages, and lack health services, clean water, and soap and masks to protect themselves.
Many indigenous and local communities lack secure land rights, making it harder for us to close our territories to the threat. And everywhere, the pandemic is being used as an excuse to limit civil liberties and rights.
As I near the end of my tenure as UN Special Rapporteur on indigenous peoples’ rights, I am holding my breath, knowing that so many lives—indigenous and not—are in danger. Governments have not prioritized protecting us from the health threats that so often arrive from beyond our borders. And the outcome often looks like genocide—or it is.
I implore governments to protect us because it is the right thing to do. But it is also increasingly clear that much is at stake for all humanity in helping indigenous peoples and local communities.
There is growing evidence that deforestation and biodiversity loss lead to the emergence of new diseases. And the world’s top scientists have already recognized that Indigenous Peoples and local communities are the best guardians of the world’s tropical forests and biodiversity. As stewards of our forests, we play a critical role in preventing the emergence of diseases like Avian Bird Flu, Ebola, Zika, and COVID-19.
In early January, as the world awoke to the danger posed by COVID-19, the World Economic Forum released a report that acknowledged the value of indigenous peoples’ traditional practices, which have inspired thousands of pharmaceutical products. Many of these modern medicines come from tropical rainforests. Yet these same rainforests are targeted for “economic development,” like large-scale palm-oil and soybean plantations and massive hydropower projects, that decimate our lands and our livelihoods.
I am writing these words in the hopes that those who should be our natural allies will listen: academics who know that new pandemics will emerge as forests come down; entrepreneurs who hope to use our traditional knowledge to create new medicines; conservationists who have a passion for nature but so often carve protected areas from our ancestral territories; and leaders charged with protecting biodiversity and slowing climate change.
I hope these words will inspire these allies to extend a hand to our peoples and our leaders. Involve us in your responses to the pandemic. Respect our fundamental rights to govern and protect our territories.
And I hope these words will inspire all to respect our isolation. It is our best hope of preventing COVID-19 from ravaging our communities as smallpox and other diseases once did. Should you fail to help us survive and fail to protect our rights, the cost to all of us will be unimaginable.
Source: Thomas Reuters Foundation News, April 20, 2020, https://news.trust.org/item/20200420094913-6wo9g/?fbclid=IwAR0Iapc9Q1w6oq0PdDCa883TsCaHrx518_h67IZryHiHVkFXGLC5KguVlGU
UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) Statement on the COVID-19 and Indigenous Peoples
14 April 2020, 4:04 pm Written by UN EMRIPApril 6---The global reach of the COVID-19 virus affects us all, but some groups will suffer disproportionately and in different ways. Indigenous peoples are such a group.
Many indigenous peoples live in remote regions difficult to access and often inaccessible. Even prior to this crisis, they experienced higher rates of health risks, poorer health and greater unmet needs in respect of health care than their non-indigenous counterparts. Indigenous peoples were already disadvantaged in terms of access to quality health care and were more vulnerable to numerous health problems, in particular pandemics. The social determinants of health, such as safe drinking water and a sufficient, balanced diet, and sanitation were not fulfilled before this crisis. Moreover, the expropriation of indigenous lands and natural resources and the increase in conflicts on their territories were already placing indigenous peoples in a particularly precarious situation. [1]
The spread of COVID -19 has and will continue to exacerbate an already critical situation for many indigenous peoples: a situation where inequalities and discrimination already abound. The rise in national recessions and the real possibility of a world depression are set to aggravate the situation further, bringing fear that many indigenous peoples will die, not only from the virus itself but also from conflicts and violence, linked to the scarcity of resources, especially drinking water and food.
Yet there is still time to limit this health crisis and its disastrous effects. Urgent action has demonstrated that appropriate measures taken early on in the crisis can drastically reduce and control the transmission of this disease.
We call on all States to fulfil their human rights obligations, guided by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to protect the health and lives of indigenous peoples. In following WHO advice, we urge you to ensure that indigenous peoples become your partners in this endeavour, and that you provide culturally acceptable healthcare, as well as food or other humanitarian relief, when necessary, and without discrimination. States should acknowledge and accommodate the cultural, spiritual, and religious rights and responsibilities of indigenous peoples when considering measures to respond to the virus. As with the adoption of any measures that may affect indigenous peoples, their free, prior and informed consent, grounded in the right to self-determination, should be sought.
Many indigenous peoples are invisible in our societies but they should not be forgotten, they may even warrant special attention. Indigenous peoples in refugee or internally displaced camps, detention centres or institutions, migrants in administrative settings, have a higher risk of contracting the disease. For older indigenous persons this virus may be fatal, and indigenous migrants and individuals in urban areas, are often already living in precarious environments. Probably the most vulnerable of indigenous peoples are those living in voluntary isolation or initial contact given their particular vulnerability to disease. It is imperative that sanitary cordons preventing outsiders from entering their territories are strictly controlled to avoid any contact. In order to limit the spread of Covid-19, several communities of indigenous peoples have taken the initiative to put in place containment measures and controls at the entrance to their territories. We welcome these initiatives and call on States to respect and support them.
All indigenous peoples will require timely and accurate information on all aspects of the pandemic, in their indigenous languages, and in culturally sensitive formats. The requirement to remain in quarantine will also require measures taken by the State, in partnership with indigenous peoples, to control entry by non-indigenous peoples or non-essential health care workers onto indigenous land. Such measures should also mitigate against encroachment upon indigenous land by opportunists, or invaders such as illegal loggers and miners. We also urge States to make a firm commitment to avoid: removal of indigenous peoples from their lands; diminishing indigenous lands; and using indigenous lands for military activity, especially for the duration of this pandemic. In short, territorial protection will be a vital component of States’ efforts to protect indigenous peoples from the spread of the disease and contribute to their recovery after this crisis.
We advise all States and UN agencies to take on board our advice herein, guided by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as guidance provided by the OHCHR (https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/COVID19Guidance.aspx), and FAO (http://www.fao.org/indigenous-peoples/news-article/en/c/1268353/).
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The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) is a subsidiary body of the Human Rights Council mandated to provide the Council with expertise and advice on the rights of indigenous peoples as set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and assist Member States, upon request, in achieving the ends of the Declaration through the promotion, protection and fulfilment of the rights of indigenous peoples.
For further information see the following https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/EMRIP/Pages/EMRIPIndex.aspx
[1] See the Expert Mechanism’s Report on Right to health and indigenous peoples with a focus on children and youth, A/HRC/33/57, the Special Rapporteur’s Report on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2018, A/HRC/39/17, and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, general comment No. 14.
Learn more:
? UNDRIP: http://bit.ly/2kHrkrf
? UNPFII: https://bit.ly/2XgBcJd
? EMRIP: https://bit.ly/39OCY70
Message from the Chair of the UNPFII to Ensure Indigenous Peoples are Informed, Protected and Prioritized during the Global COVID-19 Pandemic
8 April 2020, 2:50 pm Written by UNPFIIApril 2020 --- Indigenous peoples live in both urban and rural locals and account today for over 476 million individuals spread across 90 countries in the world, accounting for 6.2% of the global population. Nonetheless, our communities are nearly 3 times as likely to be living in extreme poverty, and thus more prone to infectious diseases. Many indigenous communities are already suffering from malnutrition and immune-suppressive conditions, which can increase susceptibility to infectious diseases.
The extent of the devastating nature and potential of COVID-19 is uncertain. Member States must protect the most vulnerable in our global society. I urge you to take immediate steps to ensure that indigenous peoples are informed, protected and prioritized during the COVID-19 global health pandemic. In this respect, information in indigenous languages is important to ensure it is accessible and followed. Of special concern are the vulnerable chronically ill, those in medical fragility, as well as the indigenous elders. The indigenous elders are a priority for our communities as our keepers of history and traditions and cultures. We also ask Member States to ensure that indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact exercise their right to self-determination and their decision to be isolated be respected. Further States must prevent outsiders from entering into their territories. Any plan or protective measures to address indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact should be multidisciplinary and follow agreed protocols and international recommendations such as the recommendations of the Inter American Commission on Human Rights.
These are uncertain times, and the PFII members are exploring different options to advance their mandate of advising on indigenous issues. The Permanent Forum is committed and will work for the future to ensure that Indigenous peoples are engaged and included in public health-related interventions. We urge Member States and the international community to include the specific needs and priorities of indigenous peoples in addressing the global outbreak of COVID 19.
Indigenous peoples can contribute to seeking solutions. Their good practices of traditional healing and knowledge, such as sealing off communities to prevent the spread of diseases and of voluntary isolation, are being followed throughout the world today. ***