Guarani and Kaiowá delegation on European tour
Amid a worrisome political climate in Brazil, a Guarani and Kaiowá representative and supporting organizations go across Europe to denounce human rights violations in a context of increasing tensions and socio-political regression vis-à-vis the indigenous communities in Mato Grosso do Sul.
For three weeks, the delegation will visit 6 European countries to raise awareness of the critical situation they live. Characterized by increasing violence and criminalization of their leaders and supporters, the Guarani and Kaiowá face severe discrimination and an alarming lack of access to justice, which only contribute to the delay of land homologation procedures. The tour will include high level political meetings across the European continent, including the key international political venues of Geneva, with the UN Headquarters, and Brussels, the cradle of EU Institutions.
This visit could not be more timely. UN Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Ms Victoria Tauli-corpuz, is to present a report on her last visit to Brazil (March 2016) at the 33rd Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC). The visit was carried out upon request of the indigenous peoples themselves, in view of the lack of implementation of existing legal provisions (homologation of the land) and the absence of protection of the communities. The report, which addresses different indigenous populations across Brazil, points to the increasing levels of violence in Mato Grosso do Sul, where most Brazil-based Guarani and Kaiowá live.
An assessment of her conclusions and recommendations will be carried out at the side event “Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights: Perspectives in Times of setback” with representatives from the Guarani and Kaiowá and other indigenous communities. The objective is to draw attention to HRC Member States and other actors about the situation within the current political framework in Brazil.
The 3-week visit aims to present an analysis of violations of the right to food and nutrition from a holistic approach, and particularly vis-à-vis the internationally recognized right of indigenous peoples to their ancestral lands. This will lead the delegation to look into the consequences of land grabbing for agribusiness expansion, as it has collateral consequences on indigenous peoples’ health, cultures and overall way of life.
Such insights are expected to trigger more diplomatic work, especially by European states towards the realization of indigenous peoples’ rights and the effective regulation and monitoring of activities of European companies in Mato Grosso do Sul, on the basis of their extraterritorial obligations.
The tour is organized by Consejo del Aty Guasu, CIMI, FIAN Brazil and FIAN International together with its European sections; FIAN Germany, FIAN Sweden, FIAN Belgium and FIAN Austria .
For more information about the tour and any media enquiries, please contact: bley-folly@fian.org
***All information related to the tour will be posted here below
European tour agenda
19-22 September – Geneva, Switzerland
20-22 September – Berlin, Germany
23-25 September – Göthenburg, Sweden
26-28 September -Brussels, Belgium
28-30 September -Vienna, Austria