#ResistenciasComunitarias: The struggle for Indigenous rights and land in Latin America

On Tuesday May 12th, CEJIL in partnership with Amazon Frontlines hosted a conversation between various indigenous leaders and activists from different regions, aiming to share information and tactics between the communities, as well as bring to light the struggles they faced already, along with the new difficulties faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the differences in region the communities inhabit, they face common problems: exploitation of their land, violations of their rights, violence and a lack of government support. During the pandemic, these challenges continue and are compounded with the lack of adequate medical care, clean water to wash their hands and insufficient tests to detect the virus.

As a result, many communities are generating and spreading information about methods of protection against the coronavirus in their communities using materials created in their own languages–sometimes transmitted by radio to reach far flung villages. To handle the shortage of medicine and health care, some groups have turned to traditional medicine. While they fight to protect their health, the struggle against extractive industries continues. During the event, the leaders emphasized the importance of collaboration between and within their indigenous communities, their commitment to protect their way of life and nature and demonstrate their resilience and hope for the future.

Watch the video here (in spanish only) .

Join us for the second webinar on facebook on May 19 at 2 p.m. HRS CR / 3  p.m. HRS EC / 4 p.m. HRS DC.