MADRE Statements

Situation of Indigenous Peoples in Colombia

Posted on: Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Keywords: Colombia, Indigenous Rights, Latin America and Caribbean

The following is an excerpt from a UN report on the Indigenous Peoples of Colombia

In response to an invitation of the Government of Colombia, four members of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues visited Colombia on 6-10 July, 2010. The purpose of the visit was to observe the situation of indigenous peoples in Colombia in general with a particular focus on the situation of the Awa peoples.

At the end of the visit, Mr. Carlos Mamani Condori issued the following press release:

Bogota, Colombia, 10 July 2010 - "In spite of constitutional recognition of the human rights of indigenous peoples, the situation of indigenous peoples in Colombia is serious, critical and deeply worrisome". That is the conclusion of the mission of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The Forum recognizes and values the contributions of the Government of Colombia and other State institutions, such as the Constitutional Court and the Defensoría del Pueblo (Ombudsman), to address the serious problems faced by indigenous peoples, nevertheless, human rights abuses persist.

Read the rest of the report here (PDF).

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