Organizations denounce in Geneva threats to isolated indigenous peoples

On a panel staged by Conectas, organizations cite deforestation and invasions of indigenous lands; Yanomami leader Davi Kopenawa also participated in the event

The Yanomami indigenous leader Davi Kopenawa at an event in the Lower House of Congress in 2019 (Photo: Cleia Viana/Lower House of Congress)

In 2019, deforestation on indigenous lands grew by 80%. With regard to lands occupied by isolated indigenous peoples, the amount was more than double the figure from the previous year – 21,028 deforested hectares, representing an increase of 113% compared to 2018. The data are from the report of the organization ISA (Instituto Socioambiental), which was presented on Tuesday, March 3, at Geneva, during the panel “Atrocity Alert! Uncontacted indigenous peoples in Brazil”.

The event, organized by Conectas in partnership with ISA and the human rights group Comissão Arns, was held to denounce the fragile situation facing indigenous peoples in isolation in Brazil and the growing risks of ethnocide and genocide of these populations. 

“I am very concerned that our authority, the president, has appointed a missionary to Funai [the National Indian Foundation]. Missionaries carry diseases too. They want to put an end to my people,” said the Yanomami indigenous leader Davi Kopenawa, who went to Geneva to participate in the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, which is taking place this month.

On the panel, besides Kopenawa, were the executive director of Comissão Arns, Laura Greenhalgh, and the researcher from ISA, Antonio Oviedo.

Brazil today is the country with the largest number of isolated indigenous peoples in South America: according to official data, there are 115 uncontacted peoples in the Brazilian territory.