UN: indigenous Brazilians call for effective safeguarding measures for the rainforest and the people of the Amazon
Denouncements against socioenvironmental crimes were presented on Wednesday (28) at the United Nations Human Rights Council
Área desmatada na Terra Indígena Cachoeira Seca, onde vivem os Arara (Foto: Juan Doblas-ISA)
On Wednesday (28), the United Nations Human Rights Council, with headquarters in Geneva, in Switzerland heard two denouncements by indigenous Brazilians on environmental and human rights crimes that are being committed in the Brazilian Amazon.
Socioenvironmental issues, as well as negligence in resolving them, were presented to the international community by Conectas, Kanindé, Instituto Socioambiental, Instituto Maíra, Associação Jupaú and Associação Kowit.
Crimes on Indigenous Lands
In one of the denouncements, the indigenous socioenvironmental activist, Neidinha Suruí spoke out on behalf of the indigenous lands of the Arara of the Cachoeira Seca and Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau, areas where recently contacted indigenous people live. According to her, the territories are suffering directly from the increase in deforestation in the Amazon region and with an increase in violence due to the spread of the crimes of illegal gold mining, land grabbing and the illegal sale of timber and cattle.
“These socioenvironmental crimes are harming not only the environment and the unequal aggravation of climate change but are also hampering guarantees of the lives and dignity of the original traditional peoples. Despite being the greatest guardians of the rainforest, these peoples are among the defenders that most fall victim of murders and persecutions in Latin America”, said Neidinha Suruí. She also supports the international community in the protection of the Amazon region and the lives of the people who live there.
Production chains
In another statement, the indigenous activist Txai Suruí drew the Council´s attention to the spread of human rights violations against the people of the Amazon and of serious socioenvironmental crimes. She also stressed the role of corporations in this scenario: “there is a need for governments to demand a real commitment from companies for transparent production chains, free of slave labour, deforestation and socioenvironmental crimes. It is necessary that the origins of products consumed is questioned throughout the whole world. Banks should not fund deforestation, for example like the recent campaign in the European Parliament that needs to be expanded around the world.”
