A new report from Amnesty International says the rights of Indigenous peoples across the Americas are being trampled on.
The report, entitled Indigenous Peoples’ Long Struggle to Defend their Rights in the Americas, is being published ahead of tomorrow’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
Amnesty notes that, compared with other citizens, Indigenous peoples are more likely to be underpaid, have lower levels of education, die in childbirth and have a lower life expectancy.
The report also includes many cases the organization has documented of physical attacks and acts of intimidation against Indigenous communities and their leaders in the past year.
The human rights group is calling on governments across the continent to create conditions for Indigenous communities to peacefully defend their rights without fear of reprisal and to bring to justice perpetrators of violence against Indigenous human rights defenders.
The theme of tomorrow’s internationally recognized day is “Bridging the Gap: Implementing the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde notes that while Canada is rated sixth on the United Nations Human Development Index, when First Nations statistics are applied to the same index, First Nations peoples in Canada are rated 63rd.
The Assembly of First Nations says it will continue to press for full recognition of First Nations rights at home and at international forums like the upcoming UN World Conference on Indigenous Peoples this September.