Today, NPWJ celebrates the International Day of World’s Indigenous People, established on the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations held in 1982.
This year, it is dedicated to Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact, which right to autonomy is protected by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Today, around 200 Indigenous groups live in voluntary isolation, continuing their ancient traditions and playing a crucial role in environmental preservation. Amazonia is home to the largest number of Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation, with 114 different groups that are officially registered, among which 28 of them more broadly identified.
In October 2023 the Brazilian Congress passed a legislation, the so-called Marco Temporal, establishing that indigenous peoples can claim lands only if they can prove occupation on the day of the promulgation of 1988 Constitution (October, 5th, 1988). Since many of them were forced to leave their ancestral lands and have only recently been able to return, and considering the lack of registers assessing the continued occupation of a specific territory, this principle constitutes a severe attempt to undermine their rights to land and self-determination.
The legislation contradicts a previous ruling by the Brazilian Supreme Court, which upheld Indigenous rights under the Constitution. To bypass this ruling, Congress is attempting to amend the Constitution, with negotiations ongoing between the Supreme Court and Congress as of August 2024. This legal battle represents the greatest current threat to the survival of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation globally.
NPWJ has been actively engaged in trying to stop such threat and continues to do so. In 2023, we supported the historical gathering which brought together over 700 indigenous leaders from diverse peoples within the Amazonia region. We also contributed to the Universal Periodic Review of Brazil by the UN Human Rights Council, focusing on deforestation, land grabbing, and human rights violations. Today, NPWJ reaffirms its commitment to protecting Indigenous rights, continuing our fight for accountability, and ensuring Indigenous voices are heard directly by decision-makers, without intermediaries.
On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, NPWJ stands in solidarity with Indigenous communities worldwide. We remain committed to ensuring their voices are heard and their rights are protected.
