International Advocacy

Under traditional international human rights law doctrine, the state is obligated to protect human rights in its territory, and it is the state that bears responsibility for human rights violations committed by private actors. When those rights are not respected or protected, raising concerns and calling for action at the United Nations (U.N.) and the Organization of American States (O.A.S.), especially in their human rights bodies and procedures, can be effective in changing government actions and policies. The use of international human rights law and international fora has been and is increasingly an important method for changing unjust domestic laws and for reducing the violation of indigenous peoples’ rights. There is a very long history of highly successful human rights advocacy work led by indigenous peoples and organizations in Brazil and throughout Central and South America. Although no advocacy project can guarantee results, we know that international human rights advocacy does work. Governments, even repressive or authoritarian governments, respond to political pressure administered through international organizations.

The Indian Law Resource Center (the Center) has a long history of work with indigenous peoples in Brazil, beginning in 1979 when we brought the first indigenous rights case the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights arguing for the demarcation and protection of Yanomami lands in the Amazon Rainforest. Though we won the case and progress was made toward demarcation, illegal gold miners invaded the area with the acquiescence and support of the local and federal government when gold was discovered there in 1987. One expert found that during a single two-year period at the height of the invasion, some 15% of all Yanomami died to due diseases and killings. The Center moved quickly to respond to this crisis, working with all available international mechanisms to compel the government of Brazil to change its policies, to enforce existing laws, and to adopt new measures to protect the Yanomami territory. Our efforts were successful; Brazil forcibly evicted the illegal miners and demarcated the 23+ million-acre Yanomami Indigenous Territory. While implementation remains an ongoing struggle, there is no doubt that Yanomami lives were saved, lands were legally protected, and that much environmental damage was averted.

Though the Yanomami case is an emblematic example of many years of advocacy in the O.A.S. and the U.N and a successful international campaign, the rights and protections for the Yanomami and hundreds of other indigenous peoples in Brazil are being threatened, especially in the Amazon. The current government has instituted policies that severely weaken the governmental agencies that oversee protections for indigenous peoples and the environment to allow agribusiness, mining, and logging interests to exploit the country’s natural resources, most of which are found on indigenous lands. The Center is currently working with and assisting indigenous leaders and advocates in Brazil to bring international attention and pressure to bear on Brazil to ensure that the government upholds the rights and protections guaranteed in Brazil’s Constitution and international law and policy standards. As was proved with our work in the Yanomami case, pressure from outside of Brazil can be a tipping point to protecting indigenous lands and communities.

RESOURCES

Indigenous leaders from the Brazilian Amazon denounce escalation of violence and land invasions and lack of protection before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights | Português (July 2021)

Office of the High Commissioner of the United Nations press release about the U.N. Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Advisory Note (May 2021) *Available in English Only

The U.N. Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Advisory Note: Protection of indigenous peoples' rights in Brazil under COVID-19 | Português (March 2021)

IACHR Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Brazil | Español | Português (February 2021)

Submission to the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council about Ongoing Human Rights Abuses Against Indigenous Peoples in Brazil (February 2021) *Available in English Only

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Adopts Precautionary Measures in Favor of the Guajajara and Awá Indigenous Peoples of Araribóia Indigenous Land | Español | Português (January 2021)

Indigenous peoples of Brazil denounce human rights violations during the pandemic before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights | Português (October 2020)

Joint Response to the OAS General Secretariat's Statement on August 7 about Indigenous Participation in Event to Commemorate Inter-American Week for Indigenous Peoples | Português (September 2020)

Submission to the 45th Session of the UN Human Rights Council about Human Rights Abuses Against Indigenous Peoples in Brazil During the COVID-19 Pandemic (August 2020) *Available in English Only

Press Release Denouncing Brazil's Silencing of Indigenous Voices During the Inter-American Week for Indigenous Peoples | Español (August 2020)

COIAB Statement Denouncing Brazil for Vetoing the Participation of Nara Baré During OAS Permanent Council Meeting (August 2020) *Available in Portuguese only

IACHR Tweet Calling on Brazil to Take Appropriate Health Measures to Assist Indigenous Peoples (June 2020) *Available in Portuguese only

IACHR Tweet Calling Brazil's Attention to the Situation of Indigenous Peoples in the Amazon within the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic (June 2020) *Available in Portuguese only

Joint Statement by the IACHR and the UN Regional Office for South America urging states to protect indigenous peoples of the Amazon from COVID-19 | Español | Português (June 2020) *Available in Spanish and Portuguese only

Letter to the U.N. Secretary-General on Brazil's Violation of Indigenous Peoples' Human Rights in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic | Português (April 2020)

Letter to the O.A.S. Secretary-General on Brazil's Violation of Indigenous Peoples' Human Rights in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic | Português (April 2020)

National Congress of American Indians Resolution #ABQ-19-022 on Supporting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the Brazilian Amazon (November 2019)

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Report on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the Panamazon | Español (October 2019)

Indigenous Organizations advocate for enhanced protections before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (September 2019)

Invitation to Roundtable Discussion on Brazil (September 2019)

Interview with Luiz Henrique Eloy Amado and Pacifica Radio (September 2019)

Interview with Luiz Henrique Eloy Amado and Cultural Survival (September 2019)

Media Advisory (September 2019)

Update on the Situation of Indigenous Peoples in Brazil (September 2019)

Interview with Robert Coulter and Native American Calling (September 2019)

Report on the Situation of Indigenous Peoples in Brazil | Español | Português (February 2019)