Indigenous Water Rights Under Threat? IACHR Demands Action
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is calling on governments across the Americas to protect and strengthen Indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination. The IACHR is an autonomous body of the OAS responsible for promoting and protecting human rights across the Americas.
The call comes as the Organisation of American States (OAS) marks the Ninth Inter-American Week for Indigenous Peoples being held this week and on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
Monday’s sessions focused on territory. Today’s theme shifted to water and Air to bring awareness to the relationship between indigenous peoples and natural resources.
“Water is the clearest expression of the bond between indigenous peoples and their territories. For indigenous communities across the hemisphere, rivers, lakes and aquifers are not merely resources. They are sources of life, memory, and spiritual meaning. Cared for through generations of sustainable practice. Yet, the commission continues to receive information about the effects of extractive industries, agribusiness, and infrastructure projects that contaminate water sources or restrict access to them without adequate consultation,” said Commissioner Riyad Insanally, Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, IACHR.
The IACHR also pointed to other problems across the region, including forced evictions, the criminalisation of Indigenous leaders defending their territories, and the continued documentation of systemic exclusion and violence affecting Indigenous communities, particularly women.
Commissioner Insanally urged states to incorporate the recommendations of its report to public policy, protect existing legal and institutional safeguards and strengthen dialogue with Indigenous and tribal authorities and representative organisations.
The IACHR says it remains available to provide technical assistance to governments and Indigenous and tribal peoples in implementing the right to self-determination.
The week-long event continues through Friday, with further discussions planned across the remaining days.