NiaTero - 2020 Annual Report - Flipbook - Page 41
CRIMINALIZATION & VIOLENCE AGAINST INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
With the onset of COVID-19, violence against Indigenous peoples has increased
in many areas. Indigenous Peoples Rights International and Global Witness report
that documented killings of Indigenous peoples have been on the rise since the
Paris Climate Agreement was signed in 2015, with more occurring in Colombia,
Brazil and the Philippines than anywhere else.
Nia Tero has made significant
advances in assisting with
measures to prevent and respond
to violence against Indigenous
peoples, most notably in catalyzing
support for Indigenous Peoples
Rights International, a new global
organization focused on responding
to criminalization and violence
against Indigenous peoples, founded
by Vicky Tauli-Corpuz and Joan
Carling. Indigenous Peoples Rights
International launched publicly in early
August, and is expanding its presence
in the Philippines, Brazil, Colombia,
Mexico, the Democratic Republic
NIA TERO - THRIVING PEOPLE. THRIVING PLACES.
of Congo, and India. Nia Tero also
supported the establishment of two
Indigenous-led rapid response funds in
the Colombian and Brazilian Amazon
regions. In its first three months, the
Colombian fund had already been
deployed nine times to Indigenous
peoples with urgent security needs,
many of them threatened by violent
armed groups.
Additionally, we’re advancing
physical and digital security
assessment, training, and
implementation assistance for our
Amazon partners in Brazil. This is
occurring through our support of
Escola de Ativismo together with
our funding partner, the Climate and
Land Use Alliance. We’ve completed
a security assessment of key Amazon
partner organizations and are carrying
out a personal security assessment for
a selection of Indigenous leaders. As
Indigenous territories unfortunately
continue to endure multiple pressures,
the need for security responses to
violence against Indigenous peoples
also continues. Thanks to these
partners’ ongoing efforts, many
Indigenous peoples are now better
prepared to respond to security threats.
CROSSCUTTING, AMPLIFICATION & SCALING - CRIMINALIZATION & VIOLENCE
| 41
