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Eight challenges and their solutions posed by indigenous peoples

2020-05-11T02:15:11.377Z


Conclusions of a debate on the challenges of the 2030 Agenda from the perspective of indigenous peoples. The measures against the covid-19 crisis must include the Sustainable Development Goals


With the covid-19 covering all corners of the planet, there are many uncertainties and only one is certainty: nothing will be the same. And if it is not everything, much will have to change. With confinement, the levels of contamination have reached historic lows, and that makes it clear that we are part of the problem, but also part of the solution. Although this is not news for those who directly protect Mother Earth: indigenous peoples.

MORE INFORMATION

  • The challenge of being a woman and indigenous in Peru
  • Why the SDGs are vital for indigenous peoples
  • What the natural disaster in the Amazon teaches us

In this context, a few weeks ago, a webinar was held to discuss the challenges of the 2030 Agenda from the perspective of the indigenous population. The crisis shows that the development path we have taken has not been successful. So it is time to listen to those who have resisted the advance of destructive economic development. Here are some of the most powerful ideas from that conversation:

1. Lack of sanitation systems and the implementation of Indigenous Intercultural Health: Washing hands is the first barrier against this and many other diseases. However, 3 billion people lack access to clean water and among them, indigenous peoples. With the covid-19 already among them, there are not enough adapted and equipped hospitals to deal with it either. For example, in Peru 67% of these communities do not have a nearby hospital center. The Andean country only dedicates 2.2% of its GDP to this sector. Communities need and demand the implementation of Indigenous Intercultural Health. Various associations have already stated this, but political action is lacking.

2. Eradicate racism and discrimination : Both have their roots in a History that has taught their societies that “to be indigenous is to be inferior”. They are colonial inheritances that must be eliminated, beginning with recognizing and reaffirming identities. For this, it is necessary to have institutions and authorities committed to cultural policies that act prioritizing the well-being of the population over economic interests.

3. Prioritize health over extractive activities: The increase in miners contaminated with the virus has not stopped extractive work in Peru, not even with the recent death of one of them. These activities are potential sources of infection since it is found in or in places bordering indigenous territories. And if with the legal activities the situation is not controlled, the illegal ones advance due to the absence of the State. Free and informed prior consultation on economic measures that impact indigenous peoples should be applied, but it seems that it has only remained on paper.

4. Include an intercultural perspective in all public policies: Every measure carried out by a Government must take into account the cultural reality of its indigenous communities to avoid their exclusion. How to confine a family if to eat they must collect their food, or water, far from their own home? How to put into practice social distancing if you live in community? How to explain the barrier measures if their worldview and native language are not taken into account?

Barrier measures must take into account the sociocultural reality of indigenous people to be effective ONAMIAP

5. Reactivation of the economy without leaving anyone behind: "Linking sustainable development with economic development dehumanizes actions," said one of the speakers at the seminar. Globalization cannot translate into abandonment of the local economy. Today more than ever it has become evident that we cannot live without agriculture, but also that it has been a forgotten sector and that it needs to be reinforced.

6. Recognition of ancestral knowledge: Traditional medicine has a lot to contribute. Indigenous communities use the wisdom of nature to protect themselves. The WHO has already recognized the potential of traditional medicine in different regions of the planet, but it is necessary that the countries themselves implement strategies to take advantage of this knowledge and complement modern medicine.

7. Improve regional education and include environmental issues: Ensuring the continuity of the school year has been a priority on political agendas. However, virtual classes do not respond to the needs of thousands of minors who do not have the Internet, nor do radio or television classes adapt to those of indigenous peoples. Education has to respond to the sociocultural context of minors and integrate an environmental theme into them that reaffirms the importance of nature protection.

8. Surveillance of justice in weak democracies as there may be abuse of authority : In countries where corruption is in the spinal cord of the government, the cremation or burial in mass graves of victims of covid-19 could be free pass so that the causes of death are not investigated. With this, the lives of environmental defenders may be even more in danger. We will be confined, but transparency must be maintained and citizen oversight is essential at times like this.

The SDGs are integrated, require clear strategies and have to be implemented now. Indigenous groups, such as the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA) or the National Organization of Andean and Amazon Indigenous Women of Peru (ONAMIAP) know this and are organizing to have effective responses. Even COICA has launched an Amazon Emergency Fund to protect indigenous populations from the threat of ethnocide. Are we going to listen to them or wait for the next pandemic to do something?

Racism and discrimination are also "lethal viruses" for indigenous peoples ONAMIAP

Source: elparis

All news articles on 2020-05-11

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