Some 400 people from a range of human rights, campesino and Indigenous organisations and social movements attended the hearing in La Paz, Bolivia. © Amnesty International
Amnesty International went yesterday today to a public hearing of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in La Paz, Bolivia with 400 people from a range of human rights, campesino and Indigenous organizations and social movements.
They went to hear the Paraguayan state held to account for progress it has made in safeguarding the survival of the Sawhoyamaxa Indigenous community. Amnesty International has been campaigning with this community since 2008.
Continue reading ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Rights - Solidarity across borders’
Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International’s section Canada, is in Port of Spain
By any measure, one of the most pressing human rights concerns throughout the Americas – in every corner of the hemisphere – is the widespread violation of the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous communities and leaders in the Americas are themselves well organized and connected with each other; and have been very clear over the years in setting out their vision for strengthened protection of Indigenous rights in the Americas. But the injustice and inaction has continued.
One would expect therefore that the situation of Indigenous Peoples would have prominence at a gathering such as the Summit of the Americas and that Presidents and Prime Ministers would make a special effort to dialogue with and show their respect to Indigenous leaders who attend. Far from it.
Continue reading ‘Indigenous peoples excluded from Summit of the Americas’
Our report We’re only asking for what is ours was launched this morning in a press conference. The Yakye Axa and Sawhoyamaxa Indigenous communities each designated three people to speak to the press – as part of a panel and in subsequent interviews.
Even without knowing any Guaraní we could understand the power of their words and the passion with which they voiced their demands to the public. We did our best to make sure that the community representatives were the protagonists of the day, although sadly it was difficult to convince many local journalists that they should interview them directly.
Continue reading ‘Still asking for what is theirs…’
Comunidad Indigena Yakye Axa ©Amnesty International
We are here in Paraguay to launch our campaign for the rights of the Yakye Axa and Sawhoyamaxa Indigenous communities to their traditional land, in line with two binding judgements from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. We are calling upon the Paraguayan State to demonstrate its commitment to these communities and comply with these overdue rulings.
Our delegation received an affectionate welcome from President Fernando Lugo on Friday when we went to inform him of our campaign launch on Tuesday 31 March. We handed him a copy of the short report we will be launching with the Yakye Axa and Sawhoyamaxa indigenous communities, “We’re only asking for what is ours”. We also presented the President with a petition of over 3,000 signatures collected over the last two months from 54 countries.
Continue reading ‘Campaigning in Paraguay for Indigenous communities’ rights to their traditional land’
Below, some of the reactions of two representatives of the Indigenous Community of Yakye Axa and Sawhoyamaxa. They participated in a workshop organized by Amnesty International and Civicus and told their story to participants.
Albino Gomez, Yakye Axa:
“What I liked most today was the participation of many people in the workshops and I am really happy with their interest in our case. They have also signed a petition to the Government of Paraguay requesting our ancestral lands back.
Continue reading ‘WSF2009: “The solidarity will help us a lot”’
