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URGENT ACTIONS

Brazil: Urgent demarcation to fulfill right to food of 30 Guarani-Kaiowá families

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Brazil: Urgent demarcation to fulfill right to food of 30 Guarani-Kaiowá families

Beginning of Action: 15/10/2009 - End of Action: 15/01/2010

The Guarani-Kaiowá is an indigenous population living in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul. In the past, they were pushed off their traditional lands to make way for large agricultural plantations and cattle raising, notwithstanding national law which stipulates demarcation of indigenous lands. On October 7, 2009, the Ministry of Justice declared the permanent ownership of an area of 11,404 hectares situated in the municipality of Caarapó to the indigenous group Guyraroká (Directive No- 3.219). This decision, is a step forward in the process of guaranteeing the human right to food of the 130 indigenous people, however is yet to be sanctioned by the President and duly implemented.

Background

In the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, around 27,500 Guarani-Kaiowá have been suffering constant violations of their rights of access to land and resources over the last years. Despite the national law which stipulates the demarcation of indigenous lands, the public authorities have not yet taken adequate steps, and many indigenous families have been evicted from their traditional lands and transferred to reservation areas. These, however, would only have inadequate access to clean water, food, fuel for food production and medical herbs to the population in the reservation. Overpopulation in the reservation areas has forced many families to migrate to cities. The groups who remained in the reservations have suffered undernourishment, and between 2005-2008, 35 indigenous children under five years old have died. It is estimated that 600 children are still affected by undernourishment. Their precarious living conditions have led to homicides, suicides, and to widespread alcoholism. All the 34 cases of suicides among indigenous peoples in Brazil were within the Guarani Kaiowá population. In 2007, it was agreed among FUNAI (the National Indian Foundation) and Public Prosecutors, in the form of an Agreement of Adjustment of Conduct, the identification and demarcation of the lands of Guarani-Kaiowás from Mato Grosso do Sul (Administrative Procedure MPF/RPM/DRS/MS1.21.001000065/2007-44), however, the implementation deadlines were not respected by FUNAI.

Within the Guarani-Kaiowá, the Guyraroká is a community located in the municipality of Caarapó, in the South of Mato Grosso do Sul. The community of Guyraroká has a population of around 130 indigenous persons and they were evicted from their traditional lands in 1998, since then, they have lived outside their territory, along the roads. In 2003, they returned to their land, but were only able to occupy a restricted part of it. Finally on October 7, 2009, the Ministry of Justice identified 11,041 hectares to which the Guyraroká community is entitled. The respective identification alone, however, does not mean that the indigenous group will immediately receive the land. In order to enable this indigenous group to make definite use of their territory, as established by article 3 of the Directive, "FUNAI will provide for the administrative demarcation of the presently declared indigenous land, and later sanction by the President."

FIAN's mandate

Brazil is a state party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights, and therefore is duty-bound under international law to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of the Guarani-Kaiowá to access land and to feed themselves. As such, the government of Brazil must ensure that the demarcation of land for the Guyraroká community is properly done, according to its national laws, thus protecting the human right to food of this community. In addition, the government must guarantee that the indigenous population must have their lands identified and demarcated, thereby providing adequate access to land and national resources to the indigenous population.

Call for action

Please send immediately letters to the Brazilian President Lula, to the Minister of Social Development, to the Minister of Human Rights and to the Minister of Justice asking them to sanction and physically demarcate the lands already identified by the Ministry of Justice, in order to guarantee the Guyraroká community's access to land and to recognize their ownership of the area.

FIAN Urgent Action 0914UBRA

Original Letter:

Prezado Presidente,

Estou extremamente preocupado com a situação da população indígena Guarani-Kaiowá no Mato Grosso do Sul. Este povo indígena tem tido seus direitos humanos desrespeitados constantemente nos últimos anos, considerando a impossibilidade terem acesso às suas terras tradicionais, e de proverem sua subsistência. A ausência da demarcação do território indígena, em desrespeito à legislação nacional que a estabelece, tem exposto os Guarani-Kaiowá a severa desnutrição, somando a um total de 35 crianças mortas no período de 2005 a 2008. Estima-se que no Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul a desnutrição afeta pelo menos 600 crianças. As más condições de vida também originaram altas taxas de homicídios e suicídios nas comunidades, sendo que todos os 34 suicídios ocorridos entre indígenas no Brasil durante 2008 ocorreram em Mato Grosso do Sul.

A recente decisão tomada pelo Ministério da Justiça de reconhecer 11.401 hectares , conforme a Portaria PORTARIA No- 3.219, DE 7 DE OUTUBRO DE 2009 como pertencentes à comunidade Guyraroká, com 130 indígenas, é um passo bem vindo na direção de proteger e realizar os direitos humanos destas comunidades. Entretanto, não é suficiente para abranger suas necessidades em termos de acesso à terra e outros recursos e garantir a realização do Direito Humano à Alimentação Adequada dos 27.500 Guaranis-Kaiwoás que vivem no Mato Grosso do Sul

O Brasil como um Estado Parte de Pactos Internacionais de Direitos Humanos da Organização das Nações Unidas (ONU) da Convenção Americana sobre Direitos Humanos, do Protocolo de San Salvador e do Convênio 169 da OIT, assumiu compromissos no âmbito do direito internacional de proteger e respeitar os direitos à alimentação, à água e em especial à vida dos indígenas, o que implica nos seus direitos à terra. Portanto solicito respeitosamente que Vossas Excelências adotem medidas garantindo que:

o A recente decisão do Ministério da Justiça, conforme disposto na PORTARIA No- 3.219, DE 7 DE OUTUBRO DE 2009 seja devidamente cumprida para a célere homologação do território de Guyraroká por parte do Presidente da República
o A FUNAI faça com extrema urgência a identificação e delimitação de todas as terras indígenas do Mato Grosso do Sul conforme previsto no Termo de Ajuste de Conduta, referente ao Procedimento Administrativo MPF/RPM/DRS/MS 1.21.001000065/2007-44. Após o processo de identificação e delimitação que sejam imediatamente homologadas as terras pelo Ministério da Justiça.

o Os Guarani-Kaiowás sejam protegidos contra práticas de criminalização de sua luta pela terra e por seus direitos em geral.

Por favor, mantenha-me informado das medidas que forem tomadas.

Respeitosamente

Translated Letter:

Open translated Letter

Close translated Letter

Mr. President,

I am extremely concerned about the situation of the indigenous population Guarani-Kaiowá in Mato Grosso do Sul. This indigenous population has had their human rights constantly disrespected over the last years, given the impossibility to have access to their traditional lands, and provide for their subsistence. The absence of the demarcation of the indigenous territory, in disrespect of the national legislation that establishes it, has exposed the Guarani-Kaiowá to severe undernourishment, leading to the death of 35 children in the period from 2005 to 2008. It is estimated that in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul undernourishment affects at least 600 children. The precarious living conditions have also led to high rates of homicides and suicides among the communities, bearing in mind that all 34 suicides of indigenous persons in Brazil in 2008 happened in Mato Grosso do Sul.
The recent decision taken by the Ministry of Justice to recognize 11,401 hectares, in accordance to the Directive No- 3.219, from October 7 2009, as belonging to the Guyraroká community, with 130 indigenous persons, is a welcomed first step in the direction of protecting and realizing the human rights of these communities. However, it is not sufficient to cover their needs in terms of land and other resources and guarantee the realization of the human right to food of the 27,500 Guaranis-Kaiowás living in Mato Grosso do Sul.
Brazil as a State Party of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (UN), of the American Convention on Human Rights, of the San Salvador Protocol and of the ILO Convention 169, committed itself internationally to protect, respect and fulfill the human rights, food, water and life of the indigenous peoples which implies their right to land. I therefore respectfully request that your Excellencies guarantee that:
o The recent decision of the Ministry of Justice, as present in the Directive No- 3.219, from October 7 2009, is implemented in definitive character for the rapid sanction of the Guyraroká territory by the President.
o FUNAI speedily identifies and demarcates all indigenous lands in Mato Grosso do Sul, as foreseen in the Agreement of Adjustment of Conduct, part of the Administrative Procedure MPF/RPM/DRS/MS1.21.001000065/2007-44, and that the identification and demarcation process is immediately sanctioned by the Ministry of Justice.
o The Guarani-Kaiowás are protected against the criminalization for their struggle for land and for their rights in general.

I would appreciate if your Excellencies informed me of the measures adopted.

Respectfully,

Recipients:

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
President of Brazil (casacivil@planalto.gov.br )

Patrus Ananias
Minister of Social Development and Combat against Hunger (ministro.mds@mds.gov.br)

Paulo Vanucchi
Minister of Human Rights (direitoshumanos@sedh.gov.br)