Livewire - Amnesty International blogging for human rights

People from the Sawhoyamaxa community taking part in a workshop with Amnesty International, Kilómetro 16, Paraguay, 27 November 2008. ©Amnesty International

Last night, we met with over 30 members of the communities who had just arrived in Asunción for the launch of our campaign.

It was motivating to remind ourselves why we were here – to support their campaign for the realisation of their rights – yet frustrating that our presence is even necessary. These communities have been demanding the return of their land through all available legal means for over 15 years, and despite all of their efforts and the support of other organizations, remain living in precarious conditions at the side of the road.

Throughout this campaign, we have sought to reflect the communities’ demands truthfully. During a meeting last night, we first presented our short report to the communities, translated into Guarani. We are also producing a radio version of the report to help them, and other Indigenous communities, to raise awareness about their situation.


Then we talked through with them the programme for the launch this morning, explained how we expected the press conference to work and invited them to join us on the panel. The communities were pleased to hear that the Congress authorities would be receiving the 3,000 signatures Amnesty International has collected to support them and are deciding amongst themselves how best to present them, and what to say to the authorities as they do this.

A strong message came across in the discussions yesterday. The communities feel that during this visit they have not come to “ask” authorities what they are doing to ensure their land is returned to them, but to “listen” to what they have to say for themselves. Both the Yakye Axa and the Sawhoyamaxa are waiting for answers, they know that they have the law on their side, and international support too, and we as Amnesty International must make sure the Paraguayan authorities feel the full force of that support.

If you want to support the Yakye Axa and Sawhoyamaxa communities to claim their rights to their traditional lands, and call on the Paraguayan State to comply with the judgements in their favour, please refer to the action at the end of the campaign digest (PDF).