Venezuela

Relevant resources

Studies show serious mercury poisoning of indigenous peoples in Caura, Venezuela

23 April, 2013

Recent research carried out by scientific research bodies in Venezuela shows that 92% of indigenous women of the Caura river, a major affluent of the Orinoco, have levels of mercury poisoning higher than internationally agreed permissible levels. Over one third of those tested have such high levels of mercury poisoning that they have a 5% risk of their newborn children having neurological disorders. The researchers note that the ongoing contamination of rivers, which results from the continuing illegal gold mining in the lands of the Ye'kuana and Sanema peoples, is getting worse and will lead to progressive bio-accumulation, posing an ever growing risk.

Declaration of Merida - Spanish (0.1 MB)

Amazonian Indigenous Peoples oppose government mining expansion plans

10 April, 2013

In a public statement the indigenous organisation COIAM, representing all the most active indigenous peoples' organisations in the Venezuelan Amazon, have expressed their opposition to government negotiations with foreign companies to open up their ancestral territories to mining without consultation or sharing of information. There are especially concerned by the advanced plans of a Chinese Corporation named as Citic Group with prospecting camps in a number of strategic locations in the indigenous peoples' heartlands.

Statement - Spanish (2.7 MB)

Yukpa leader assassinated for resisting coal mining in western Venezuela

4 March, 2013

Yukpa leader and activist, Sabino Romero, was assassinated on 3 March 2013, according to the Venezuelan national human rights organisation, Provea.

Background information - English (0.2 MB)

COIAM Statement - Spanish (0.2 MB)

GTAI Statement - Spanish (0.1 MB)

Guidelines for the management of the Ye'kwana and Sanema territories in the Caura River basin in Venezuela

1 March, 2013

This participatory study on natural resources, their uses and proposals for their management, was carried out by the Indigenous Organisation of the Caura River Basin (KUYUJANI) and the National Experimental University of Central Guayana Anthropology Department, in conjunction with the Ye'kwana and Sanema communities, with support from Forest Peoples Programme.

Introduction by authors

Castellano (8.2 MB)

Ye'kwana (8.9 MB)

Venezuelan Yanomami in conflict with illegal miners

15 October, 2012

In August, news broke of an alleged massacre of Yanomami people in the remote Upper Ocamo river. The news had filtered down to mission stations among the Yanomami in the Parima grasslands further south and was then broadcast by the Yanomami organisation, Horonami, and other indigenous organisations in the Venezuelan State of Amazonas. The problem of illegal incursions by Brazilian miners into the territory of the Venezuelan Yanomami has been going on sporadically since the mid-1960s and has led to repeated epidemics and outbreaks of violence[1]. In 1993, a massacre in the community of Haximu led to international investigations and the conviction of several miners in the Brazilian courts. There was alarm that something similar had just occurred in the Upper Ocamo.

Yanomami in Venezuela reiterate call for investigation of abuses by miners

27 September, 2012

On 25th September, the Venezuelan Yanomami through their national organisation, Horonami, reiterated their call for a calm, detailed and participatory investigation into possible violent acts and abuses by illegal Brazilian miners in the Upper Ocamo river in the headwaters of the Orinoco. Although allegations of a serious massacre of Yanomami have now been dropped, the Yanomami reject statements that 'all is well' in the region.

Horonami Statement - English (0.3 MB)

Pronunciamiento de Horonami - Español (1 MB)

Venezuela: piqued by international criticism of its tardy response to the alleged massacre of Yanomami Indians by illegal miners, the Government has withdrawn from the American Convention on Human Rights

11 September, 2012

On 5th September 2012, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organisation of American States issued a press release in which it urged the Venezuelan Government to carry out an investigation in the Upper Ocamo village of Irotatheri where the alleged massacre of as many as 80 people is supposed to have taken place. On 10th September 2012, the IACHR issued a further press statement noting that Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela had officially 'denounced' the Convention. However, as the IACHR notes, withdrawal from the Convention requires one year's notice and moreover:

Press statements (0.1 MB)

Venezuela: Indigenous organizations denounce another serious massacre of indigenous Yanomami by illegal Brazilian miners

29 August, 2012

Following a recent investigation carried out by the indigenous organization, Horonami, other indigenous organizations in the Venezuelan State of Amazonas have issued a joint statement denouncing a massacre of Yanomami indigenous people in the headwaters of the Ocamo river in the Upper Orinoco. The massacre is alleged to have been perpetrated by Brazilian miners who illegally crossed the border into this remote, forested, upland area.

Statement - Spanish (0.2 MB)

Statement - English (0.3 MB)

2nd COIAM Statement (0.2 MB)

Statement by Working Group on Indigenous Affairs of the University of the Andes (0.1 MB)

Venezuela: Indigenous organizations denounce cuts in land demarcations in Amazonas, 6 August 2012

8 August, 2012

Government moves to cut the Hoti people's lands in the Venezuelan State of Amazonas by 42% have been denounced by all the main indigenous peoples' organizations. The Hoti were only brought into sustained contact with the national society by missionaries in the 1960s and many groups are still choosing to remain out of contact in the forested highlands. After flawed consultations, the Government has proposed reducing the Hoti territory by almost half, thereby excluding from protection the most isolated groups.

Statement - Spanish (0.2 MB)

Venezuela: New study shows lack of political will to recognise indigenous land rights

4 July, 2012

A new report from the Universidad Nacional Experimental de Guayana shows that less than 1% of the territory of Venezuela has been recognised as indigenous lands. The illustrated study compares the situation in Venezuela with neighbouring Colombia where more 34 million hectares making up nearly 30% of the national territory have been recognised as self-governing indigenous territories (resguardos).

Report - Spanish (1.4 MB)