The indigenous peoples of our world are the victims of some of the most cruel forms of injustice and oppression. At first they suffered at the hands of the colonizers, but today they suffer from internal oppression. They are denied rights to their own land and natural resources. In many countries they are treated as second-class citizens. As people with a unique way of life and culture they are used as artefacts in a cultural museum for tourism purposes. The reason their suffering has gone unnoticed for so long is because it is hidden inside the forests away from the eyes of the modern world.
CIJR works in partnership with ATINI as advocates for the rights of indigenous people. Our efforts to bring justice for the indigenous peoples is built on the assumption that all people in our world have equal worth and value irrespective of gender, culture and religion. Indigenous people have a unique way of life and culture that has much to teach modern people about environmental stewardship and preserving biological diversity.
During the 6th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, CIJR representatives were able to attend this forum for the first time to lobby for the rights of the Suruwaha tribe who live in the Amazonian region of Brazil. In May 2008, another CIJR delegation attended the 7th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The theme for the 7th session of UNPFII was “Climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods: the stewardship role of indigenous peoples and new challenges”.
7th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues