The Peoples' Legal School Sixth Cohort - 2023 Edition strengthens a new generation of Indigenous peoples' legal defenders

This article was originally published in Spanish on 8 September 2023 by Instituto de Defensa Legal.

The Peoples' Legal School, in its sixth cohort, under the modality of "Strengthening new generations of legal professionals for the defence of Indigenous and forest peoples' rights", has concluded its training cycle with a closing ceremony that marked the end of an intensive process of learning and reflection. The School was organised by the Instituto de Defensa Legal, Forest Peoples Programme and the Instituto de Cultura Jurídica of the Universidad Nacional de La Plata and was supported by Nia Tero.

Following a public call for applications, eighteen young lawyers and law students from Andean and Amazonian universities across Peru were selected for this sixth centralised edition. The group of participants had a strong intercultural component, as half of them were members of Indigenous peoples and a total of ten languages were spoken. The Peoples' Legal School began with a face-to-face stage from 6 to 13 August 2023 in Cieneguilla. There they immersed themselves for a week of learning for an intensive legal sentipensar (“feeling-thinking”) in the classroom, focusing on crucial topics related to the rights of Indigenous peoples and nature, such as sources of Indigenous peoples' rights, human rights defenders, the right to protest, violence against Indigenous women, among others. Some complementary classes to the legal training were also addressed, such as climate change, history of Indigenous peoples' resistance and a workshop on kené (the design system of the Shipibo-Konibo people).

As part of their legal training, the participants of the School also attended the Lima Bar Association for a discussion on legal pluralism. The dean of the Lima Bar Association, Dr. César Bazán Naveda, was present.

The lectures were given by specialists from the organising institutions. In addition, there were guest lecturers such as the anthropologist Luis Mujica Bermúdez, the writer Roger Rumrrill, and the Shipibo artist Sadith Silvano, who shared their knowledge and experience on these topics.

At the end of the classroom stage, and with the aim of applying the knowledge acquired, the School involved periods of practical learning with various Indigenous rights organisations, where participants were able to learn about the realities and challenges faced by these peoples in their search for justice and recognition.

The Peoples' Law School, now in its sixth cohort, represents a significant step in strengthening legal capacities and awareness of the importance of defending the rights of Indigenous peoples and forests. This initiative has contributed to the development of a new generation of legal defenders committed to the cause of Indigenous peoples and the protection of their territories.

For more information and details about the Peoples' Legal School and other similar activities, please visit the Legal Defence Institute website or follow our social networks.