‘State of emergency’ for Paraguay’s tribal peoples

Indigenous peoples in Paraguay are in a state of emergency according to the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur for indigenous peoples.

A new U.N. report [Spanish] found “persistent racism,” “discrimination” and a total failure by the Paraguayan state to uphold indigenous peoples’ land rights.

The report highlights “massive deforestation” of land belonging to uncontacted Ayoreo Indians and warns that the government’s failure to return the land to its rightful owners places the Ayoreo’s lives in great danger.

Rampant destruction by cattle firms Yaguareté Porã SA and Spanish-owned “Carlos Casado SA”: has already destroyed much of the Ayoreo’s forest, which has the highest deforestation rate in the world.

Uncontacted tribes are the most vulnerable peoples on the planet. For the last remaining uncontacted Ayoreo, the forest is their only hope for survival.

The U.N. has called on the companies to halt all work on the Ayoreo’s land until the tribe’s 20-year land claim has been resolved.

The Paraguayan State has expressed its “firm duty to find a quick and sustainable solution” to the indigenous land crisis. However, a preliminary forecast for Paraguay’s Indian Affairs Department shows massive cuts up to 40%.