UN rights expert: Brazil must take further action to recognize indigenous peoples’ rights News
UN rights expert: Brazil must take further action to recognize indigenous peoples’ rights

The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz on Monday applauded [press release] the Brazilian government for its actions taken to recognize indigenous peoples’ rights but stressed that further measures needed to be taken. In particular she praised the demarcation framework and the pro-active role of the National Indian Foundation of Brazil (FUNAI) [official website]. However, she said the number of attacks an indigenous people remains alarming, as 138 indigenous leaders were killed in 2014 compared to 92 in 2007. Tauli-Corpuz stated:

In the past, Brazil has been a world leader in the area of demarcation of indigenous peoples’ territories. However, in the eight years following that visit, there has been an absence of progress in relation to the resolution of long standing issues of key concern to indigenous peoples and to the implementation of the his recommendations.

She also expressed concern regarding subordinating economic interests and constitutional amendment proposals adverse to the interests of indigenous people. Tauli-Corpuz’s comments came after her full statement [statement] at the end of an 11-day mission to Brazil.

The rights of indigenous peoples remains a controversial topic. Earlier this week the Supreme Court of Canada granted an appeal [JURIST report] of Canadian indigenous people challenging the use of seismic testing to find natural gas. Last month a New Mexico federal judge approved [JURIST report] an almost $1 billion settlement between the Obama administration and Native American tribes based on claims that the US government had for decades underfunded contract costs for tribes to manage federal services. In 2012 UN Special Rapporteur on Rights of Indigenous People James Anaya visited [JURIST report] the US in order to launch the UN’s first ever investigation into the rights situation of Native Americans. The US endorsed the Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2010, after being one of four member states originally opposed to the treaty when it was adopted by the UN [JURIST reports] in 2007. The other countries opposed to it, Canada, New Zealand and Australia [JURIST reports], have all also changed their views and have since endorsed the treaty. This non-binding treaty outlines the human rights issues faced by the more than 370 million indigenous people throughout the world and encourages nations not to discriminate against them. The declaration was debated for more than two decades before it was passed.