GENEVA.– The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, will carry out an official visit to Timor-Leste from 8 to 16 April. During her visit, Tauli-Corpuz will examine diverse issues affecting indigenous peoples, including customary justice systems, community land issues, education, conservation and climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.
"I look forward to learn about Timorese culture and how the young Timorese nation is addressing challenges such as ensuring access to justice and the exercise of land rights," said the Special Rapporteur.
"I will also study conservation measures and how Timor-Leste is dealing with the impacts of climate change," she noted.
The Special Rapporteur, Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, will hold individual meetings with representatives of indigenous peoples and organizations during the 18th annual session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York. The meetings will be held in the afternoon between 3 and 6 PM of 25th and 26th of April 2019. Representatives of indigenous peoples and organizations may request a meeting with her with regard to matters that fall within her mandate, including allegations of human rights violations.
PARAGUAY. Indígenas del pueblo Ayoreo Totobiegosode recibieron el título del inmueble conocido como Finca 384, de 18.000 hectáreas, situado en el distrito de Puerto Casado, Patrimonio Natural y Cultural del pueblo Ayoreo Totobiegosode (Alto Paraguay, Chaco), por parte del Instituto Paraguayo del Indígena (INDI). El Estado paraguayo había pagado hace más de 20 años por esta propiedad que nunca pudo ser titulada, hasta ahora.
En un acto oficial, realizado el 21 de marzo de 2019, la presidenta del Instituto Paraguayo del Indígena (INDI), Ana María Allen, procedió a la transferencia del título del inmueble. En la ocasión, Pohai Picanerai, presidente de la organización indígena Payipie Ichadie Totobiegosode (OPIT), asociación aglutinada a la Federación por la Autodeterminación de los Pueblos Indígenas (FAPI) suscribió los documentos durante el acto de la firma de transferencia.
Recomendaciones de la Relatora Especial
La Relatora Especial sobre los derechos de los pueblos indígenas, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, tomó conocimiento detallado del caso del pueblo Ayoreo Totobiegosode durante du visita oficial a Paraguay realizada en noviembre de 2014. En su Informe de Misión a Paraguay ( A/HRC/30/41/Add.1) presentado al Consejo de Derechos Humanos en agosto de 2015, la Relatora Especial formuló recomendaciones a Paraguay relativas al caso del pueblo Ayoreo Totobiegosode:
GENEVA (21 March 2019) - Human rights violations which are reported to have taken place during protests in Venezuela have been condemned by UN human rights experts* as systematic and pervasive.
"We are deeply concerned about the rapidly deteriorating economic, social and political situation in Venezuela and call upon the authorities to take urgent and immediate measures to address this complex crisis, with full respect for their international human rights obligations," the experts said.
The Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples is collecting information in preparation of her upcoming country visit to Timor Leste which will take place from 8 to 16 April 2019.
In accordance with the established practice of mandate-holders, the Special Rapporteur welcomes all relevant submissions that indigenous organisations and other stakeholders may wish to transmit for her consideration in preparation of this visit, such as:
Recent analytical reports or surveys relating to the mandate of the Special Rapporteur;
Information on relevant policies, programmes and legal framework;
Priority issues/concerns and situations that warrant the attention of the Special Rapporteur;
Suggestions on issues to examine and related locations to visit;
Contact info for organisations and civil society representatives to meet in different locations.
Among the topics the Special Rapporteur is particularly interested in receiving information on: customary justice systems, the impact of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, conservation, education and community land issues. Submissions on other topics are also welcomed.
Kindly submit information by 20 March 2019 to indigenous@ohchr.org. Please indicate "Visit to Timor Leste 2019" in the subject heading of the email submission.
Nota técnica sobre la consulta y el consentimiento libre, previo e informado de los pueblos indígenas en México
Febrero de 2019
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Relatora Especial de Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas
Desde mi visita oficial a México, en noviembre de 2017, he seguido con atención las acciones encaminadas a la implementación de las recomendaciones realizadas en mi informe de misión (A/HRC/39/17/Add.2). En este contexto, quisiera expresar mi profunda preocupación al Gobierno de México en relación con la información recibida por mi mandato en los últimos meses acerca de proyectos de inversión anunciados por el Gobierno que podrían afectar los derechos de los pueblos indígenas y en particular, la intención de realizar consultas ciudadanas para recabar la opinión de la población nacional en general sobre la ejecución o no de esos proyectos. Falta claridad sobre como las consultas previstas tendrán en cuenta las obligaciones del Estado mexicano de implementar procesos específicos de consulta previa con los pueblos indígenas potencialmente afectados con el fin de obtener su consentimiento libre, previo e informado.
La nota técnica adjunta recapitula la importancia, el objetivo y la finalidad de los derechos de consulta y consentimiento libre, previo e informado de los pueblos indígenas. He decidido hacer pública dicha nota que espero sea una contribución constructiva en las discusiones sobre la materia.
La nota técnica quiere subrayar que los procesos de consulta ciudadana diseñados para la población nacional en general no garantizan las salvaguardas de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas consagradas en los estándares internacionales de derechos de los pueblos indígenas.
GENEVA (11 March 2019) – UN human rights experts* are urging the Congress of Guatemala not to pass a new bill which would set up a general amnesty for serious human rights violations committed during the armed internal conflict.
The bill seeks to amend Guatemala's National Reconciliation Law which has been the basis of trials involving human rights violations in the country since the peace accords of 1996, and would establish an automatic mechanism for extinguishing the criminal responsibility of all those responsible for serious violations of human rights committed during that period.
"The approval of these reforms would seriously affect victims' rights to justice, truth, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition. It could also lead to reprisals and attacks against victims, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, plaintiffs, witnesses, experts and others involved in human rights trials, putting their own safety and that of their families at risk," the experts said.
GENEVA (21 February 2019) - Prompt and impartial investigations must be carried out into numerous cases of alleged killings, unlawful arrests, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of indigenous Papuans by the Indonesian police and military in West Papua and Papua provinces, say a group of UN human rights experts*.
In the latest reported case, a video was circulated online of a handcuffed indigenous Papuan boy being interrogated by Indonesian police with a snake wrapped around his body. The boy, who was arrested on 6 February for allegedly having stolen a mobile phone, is heard screaming in fear while the laughing police officers push the snake's head towards his face.
"This case reflects a widespread pattern of violence, alleged arbitrary arrests and detention as well as methods amounting to torture used by the Indonesian police and military in Papua," the experts said.
Keynote Address: Indigenous Peoples' Forum in IFAD, 4th Global Session, 12-14 February 2019, IFAD Headquarters, Rome, Italy
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Mr. Gilbert Houngbo, President of IFAD, Mr. Paul Winters, Members of the Governing Council of IFAD, the Senior Management and staff of IFAD, members of the Indigenous Peoples' Steering Committee, Indigenous representatives, ladies and gentlemen,
It is an honor for me to speak at this opening plenary of the 4th Global Meeting of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum at IFAD. I always look forward to attending this Forum because it represents what can possibly be achieved through a partnership between indigenous peoples and a UN Multilateral Financial Institution. For many of us, indigenous peoples, we started knowing IFAD only in 2001. It has not been that long but many milestones have been achieved between then and now. The theme "Promoting Indigenous Peoples' Knowledge and Innovations for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Development" is so apt as several of the gains achieved by indigenous peoples since the Forum in 2017 speak to this theme.
GENEVA (30 January 2019) - UN human rights experts* have called for a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into the collapse of a tailing dam in Minas Gerais, Brazil, on 25 January 2019, the second such incident involving the same company in the past three years.
Dozens were killed and hundreds left missing by the disaster involving the Córrego do Feijão mine owned by the mining company Vale. Experts expressed their deepest condolences to the families of the victims and solidarity to those affected by the catastrophic collapse of the tailing dam.
The tragedy demands accountability and calls into question preventive measures taken subsequent to the Samarco mining disaster in Minas Gerais just over three years ago, when a catastrophic flood of mining waste near Mariana killed 19 people and affected the lives of millions, including indigenous communities." the experts said.**
The move would safeguard biodiversity, slow extinctions, and help maintain a steady climate, a leading group of conservationists say.
This week a United Nations working group responded to a joint statement posted online in December by some of the world's largest conservation organizations calling for 30 percent of the planet to be managed for nature by 2030—and for half the planet to be protected by 2050. But exactly what counts as "protected"—and how countries can reach those goals—is still up for debate. (direct download)
Conservationists say these high levels of protection are necessary to safeguard benefits that humans derive from nature—such as the filtration of drinking water and storage of carbon that would otherwise increase global warming. The areas are also needed to prevent massive loss of species.
Brazil's new president, Jair Bolsonaro, has wasted little time in targeting the country's indigenous people. UN rapporteur Victoria Tauli-Corpuz told DW that a move to expand farming will put indigenous rights at risk.
DW: Jair Bolsonaro has issued an executive order making the Agriculture Ministry responsible for deciding what to do with lands claimed by indigenous peoples, stripping power from the indigenous affairs agency, FUNAI. How do you see these developments?
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz: This is a regressive move, because the Agriculture Ministry is the agency which supports the expansion of the areas for the production of crops for export and for cattle ranching. Putting FUNAI under a body which has the function of facilitating the expansion of agriculture, including to the indigenous peoples' lands and territories, will potentially undermine FUNAI's mandate which is to protect the rights of indigenous peoples to their lands and territories.
What can possibly happen is that FUNAI's mandate will be changed or its resources and powers will be reduced significantly which will make it very weak in terms of performing its role of protecting the rights of indigenous peoples.
GENEVA (19 December 2018) – UN rights experts have expressed concerns over the jailing of an indigenous leader and human rights defender in Guatemala following opposition to a hydro-electric dam project.
Bernardo Caal Xól, who was sentenced in November to seven years and four months' imprisonment, has represented the q'eqchí' communities in Santa Maria Cahabón municipality in legal actions against the Oxec company's project since 2015.
"The criminalisation of Mr. Caal Xól was preceded by virulent defamation campaigns in media, depicting him as a violent criminal acting against the interest of the nation," said the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, who visited Guatemala in May 2018 and met him in prison in Cobán.
"When we met, Mr. Caal Xól expressed serious concerns over his personal security in prison. I urge that his effective protection be ensured," the independent expert said.
PANEL: 9 December 2018 15:00-15:30 | Katowice time (GMT+1) LIVESTREAM
How can all the issues discussed today bridge the science – calling for urgent action on climate change in the landscapes – with how people live and act on a daily basis? Key speakers will reflect on how we can ensure we meet Paris Agreement targets through the lens of rights, political accountability and collaboration. Perspectives from indigenous people, civil society and policy makers will help map out the steps we need to take together for successful and holistic climate mitigation.
Speakers
Takeshi Shimotsuma Supervising Director of Global Environment and Energy Environment Policy Bureau, Kyoto City Government, Japan
Mette Wilkie Chief, Policy and Resources Division and Deputy Director FAO
Jennifer Morgan Executive Director Greenpeace
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
GENEVA (7 December 2018) – UN experts welcomed the decision of the court in Tegucigalpa to convict the murderers of the environmental rights defender, Berta Cáceres, but reiterated their concern that the masterminds of her murder remain at large.
On 28 November 2018, a Sentencing Tribunal of the Honduran Judiciary in Tegucigalpa convicted seven men of the murder of the Lenca leader, an environmental and indigenous rights defender who was shot dead in her home on the night of 2 March 2016. Significant concerns have been expressed internationally about the trial, particularly regarding the exclusion of victims and the delay in trial proceedings.
Berta Cáceres had led protests and spoken out against the construction of the Agua Zarca dam, which threatened the traditional lands and water resources of the local Lenca indigenous communities. The project was being built on the Rio Gualcarque, a river considered sacred by the indigenous Lenca peoples.
6 December 2018 - As independent experts of the UN Human Rights Council*, we call on States to fully integrate human rights standards and principles in the rules for implementing the Paris Agreement on climate change (the Paris Rulebook). In a significant breakthrough, in 2015, Parties to the Paris Agreement recognized the need to integrate their human rights obligations and their efforts to address climate change, pledging to respect and protect human rights in all climate actions. Now, as the Parties meet in Katowice, Poland for the 24th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (3 to 14 December 2018), they must take the necessary steps to operationalize their human rights obligations as they finalize the Paris Rulebook.
Climate change is one of today's greatest threats to human rights, as illustrated in the recently released Special Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)1, which describes the ways in which climate change is transforming life on earth and adversely impacting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. The IPCC concluded that "rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society" are needed to prevent catastrophic climate impacts. Unfortunately, the existing commitments of State Parties to the Paris Agreement—through their nationally determined contributions—put the world heading for 3°C of warming.
End of mission statement by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz on her visit to Ecuador
Quito, November 29, 2018
Introduction and background
In my capacity as Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, I have visited Ecuador from 19 to 29 November 2018. First of all, I would like to thank the Government of the Republic of Ecuador for inviting me, as well as for allowing me to conduct my visit in an independent manner. I regard this invitation as an indication of the Government's willingness to advance in a constructive dialogue towards the full implementation of the rights of indigenous peoples in the country.
During my 11-day visit, I have met with the President of the Republic, Mr. Lenin Moreno, several Ministers, high-level representatives from different ministries and governmental institutions, the President of the National Assembly, the Judiciary Council, the Supreme Court of Justice, the Attorney General, the Public Prosecutor and the Human Rights Ombudsperson, among others. I have also met with representatives from the civil society, academia, the private sector and the members of the UN system in the country.
I have also participated in one national assembly in Quito and two regional assemblies in Lago Agrio and Yakuwasi, Victoria del Portete, organised by the Confederación de las Nacionalidades Indígenas de Ecuador, CONAIE, its confederations ECUARUNARI, CONFENIAE and CONAICE, and its federations and organisations. I would like to express my gratitude to CONAIE for the hard work in organising and coordinating these very important meetings. Through them, I have had the opportunity to meet with hundreds of representatives of indigenous communities, peoples and nationalities from the Sierra, the Coast and the Amazon. Furthermore, I visited the Shuar Centre of Kupiamai and the community of Tundayme in the Morona Santiago and Zamora Chinchipe Provinces, and the Sápara community of Jandayaku in Pastaza. In the city of Latacunga, I met with representatives of indigenous peoples of the Sierra to hear about indigenous justice, while in Cangahua, members of the Kayambi people introduced their actions and proposals on intercultural bilingual education to me. I was sorry not to be able to visit the territories of the indigenous nationalities of the Coast, but I had the chance to meet with members of the Épera, Chahi and Awá nationalities in Ibarra. I also held meetings with authorities of Waorani nationality, including from the Bameno community, and had separate meetings with indigenous women. I would like to express my deepest regrets to the communities that had invited me, but where I could not visit due the short time available for my mission, in particular to the community of Molleturo, affected by the Rio Blanco project. Please rest assured that I will carefully consider all the information you have submitted to me in my final report.
In all these meetings, I have received an enormous amount of oral testimonies and written information. While I will be reviewing this information in detail over the coming months for the preparation of my final report to the Human Rights Council to be submitted in September 2019, I would hereby like to share some preliminary observations and recommendations. My visit to Ecuador takes place in the year of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the 2008 Montecristi Constitution. Therefore, I thought it would be timely to assess the progress in the implementation of the Constitutional commitments regarding the building of a plurinational State, including the effective application of the collective rights of indigenous communes, communities, peoples and nationalities in light of Ecuador's international human rights obligations in this regard. I also wanted to follow up on the outstanding observations and recommendations made by my predecessors, Rodolfo Stavenhagen in 2006 and James Anaya in 2009.
GENEVA (15 November 2018) – The Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, will visit Ecuador from 19 to 29 November.
"My visit takes place at a symbolic time for Ecuador, 10 years after the adoption of the Constitution which widely recognises the collective rights of indigenous peoples," said Tauli-Corpuz.
The Special Rapporteur will assess the implementation of the Constitution in light of Ecuador's international human rights commitments, particularly with respect to indigenous peoples' rights to self-determination and to lands, territories and natural resources. She will also assess the situation of indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation and initial contact in the Amazon.
"I am particularly interested in learning about Ecuador's experience in building a truly plurinational and intercultural society, including through adequate consultation processes with indigenous peoples, intercultural health and bilingual education systems as well as harmonisation of the ordinary and traditional justice systems," Tauli-Corpuz said.
GENEVA (6 November 2018) – UN experts have strongly condemned the killing of Julián Carrillo, an indigenous rights defender from the state of Chihuahua, who had worked tirelessly for over two decades to defend his community against the exploitation of Rarámuri ancestral lands.
On 23 October 23 2018, Julián Carrillo told a friend by phone that he believed he was being watched and said he would go into the forest in an attempt to hide. On the evening of 25 October, his body was found. He had multiple bullet wounds.
"We urge the Mexican authorities to identify the perpetrators of this reprehensible crime and to bring them to justice in accordance with the law," the experts said.
The experts also urged the Government to address the underlying causes of such violence. "The killing of Julián Carrillo highlights the serious situation in the Sierra Tarahumara where the lack of recognition of indigenous land rights is a root cause of the recurring violence against and displacements of indigenous communities."
The Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression have all visited the state of Chihuahua. In the course of the past year they have expressed grave concern over the lack of adequate protection measures for human rights defenders and indigenous communities at risk.
Interview with Victoria Tauli Corpuz, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Victoria Tauli Corpuz, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, laughs out loud as she recalls reading about about capacity-building programs on self-governance for indigenous peoples. "We've been governing ourselves long before nation states even existed!" In a conversation with Politically Speaking during a recent trip to New York, Ms. Tauli Corpuz talked about important role indigenous governance can play in achieving peaceful and inclusive societies by furthering cooperation and dialogue between indigenous peoples, the private sector and state actors.
GENEVA.– The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, will carry out an official visit to Timor-Leste from 8 to 16 April. During her visit, Tauli-Corpuz will examine diverse issues affecting indigenous peoples, including customary justice systems, community land issues, education, conservation and climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.
