-
- The UK Minister for the Americas met with Peru’s Minister of the Environment and indigenous peoples’ organizations.
- Indigenous peoples were represented by the vice-president of AIDESEP, the vice-president of CODEPISAM and a representative of FEPIKECHA.
- DAR facilitated the holding of this meeting between indigenous, government and cooperation authorities.
In order to learn about the threats and challenges that affect indigenous peoples and how they face them, on Wednesday, October 11, representatives of the Government of the United Kingdom, the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Peru and the Ministry of Environment of Peru met with representatives of the indigenous peoples of San Martín who are part of the Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Jungle (AIDESEP). in order to collect contributions to improve the intervention of cooperation in the territory to protect rights and the Amazon.
The meeting was attended by David Rutley, Minister for the Americas of the United Kingdom, Gavin Cook, British Ambassador in Lima, Albina Ruiz, Minister of the Environment of Peru, José Carlos Nieto, Head of the National Service of Natural Protected Areas (SERNANP), Miguel Guimaraes, Vice President of AIDESEP, Wiler Saurin, Vice President of the Coordinator for the Development and Defense of Indigenous Peoples of the San Martín Region (CODEPISAM), among others present. The trip took place on the occasion of the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the government of the United Kingdom and Peru. The meeting was facilitated by Law, Environment and Natural Resources (DAR) in coordination with the UK Embassy, as part of our work to ensure that the voices of indigenous peoples are heard and their efforts to defend their rights and territories are supported.
David Rutley, recognized the work of indigenous peoples in the fight against climate change “they are the ones who know the Amazon territory best”, they are the ones who suffer, directly, the consequences of the illicit activities they face, which is why he indicated that the United Kingdom has plans to work with indigenous peoples to protect the Amazon; That is why they are “interested in hearing about their experiences and their recommendations” in order to better guide the intervention of international cooperation.
Miguel Guimaraes said that territorial insecurity, the growth of illicit activities and the consequences suffered by indigenous peoples, are patterns that are repeated throughout the Amazon “more than 30 indigenous leaders were murdered for defending their territories and there is no justice for them, indigenous peoples are open to dialogue to join efforts, to solve the problems facing the Amazon.” He concluded by mentioning that AIDESEP is promoting the development of local economies, territorial security, monitoring and surveillance, among other actions.
“The communities live in fear, my family and I are threatened. To get out of my community, I have to use different routes,” said Quinto Inuma, from the native community of Santa Rosillo de Yanayacu. Likewise, Wiler Saurín, mentioned that the State, through its ministries, does not support the defense of the territories of indigenous peoples, “part of the Cordillera Azul National Park is within indigenous territories, for its creation the indigenous peoples were not consulted, nor do they have the right to the benefits that are generated from them, like carbon credits.”
Finally, Albina Ruiz apologized on behalf of the State, lamenting the bad practices that the State has had, caused by corruption, such as land trafficking. He also indicated that the Ministry of the Environment has absolute respect and recognition for indigenous peoples: “we have been working together, rejecting bills that threaten indigenous peoples and the environment.” He acknowledged the social gaps and invited indigenous peoples, the State and civil society to continue working together to reduce them. Finally, he said, “that is why I have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote the ratification of the Escazú Agreement and for Congress to unarchive the ratification process.”