Peru: Indigenous peoples reaffirm self-determination

The Unity Pact was one of the social articulations that led the People's Summit against Climate Change and the March in defense of Mother Earth last year

Indigenous organizations propose a new Plurinational Constitution and a National Program of Community Adaptation to Climate Change.

Servindi, 21 January 2015.- The Unity Pact of Indigenous Organizations of Peru issued a statement in which they reaffirmed their identity as indigenous peoples, their right to self-determination and the need of decolonization of the relationships between indigenous peoples, the State and the broader society.

The Pact also expressed its commitment to work for the reconstitution and strengthening of their collective territories and called to live in harmony with Mother Nature as part of the Buen Vivir for all mankind.

The fundamental political stance is to fight for a Constitution where "all people participate as the constituent of a Plurinational State that recognizes the pre-existence of indigenous peoples and their integral ancestral territory."

The Unity Pact consists of the following organizations: National Agrarian Confederation (CNA), Peasant Confederation of Peru (CCP), National Unitary Center of Rondas Campesinas of Peru (CUNARC), National Federation of Peasant, Artisans, Indigenous and Native Women of Peru (FEMUCARINAP), National Organization of Andean and Amazonian Indigenous Women of Peru (ONAMIAP), and the National Union of Aymara Communities (UNCA).

Their motto is: "Moving towards a self-determination of our peoples".

On the 16^th of January 2015, the Pact issued a statement in the newspaper "Hildebrandt en sus Trece", one of the few publications that exercise independent critical journalism in Peru.

The statement was adopted at the Unity Pact Third National Meeting: "Territory, Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples Self-Determination", held on 8 and 9 of December 2014 during the People's Summit against Climate Change in Lima.

Demands to the Peruvian State

The statement demands that the State recognize in good faith the rights of native, indigenous or traditional peoples of all indigenous nations and nationalities.

The demand is also extended to including autonomous peoples living in voluntary isolation or initial contact, peasant and indigenous communities, rondas campesinas, or other local, regional and national organizations of self-government.

Another requirement is the participation of indigenous peoples at all levels, and a quota system in all national representative institutions.

In addition, the document demands the collective titling of indigenous people´s ancestral territories including habitat, natural resources, forests, water, flora and fauna; the repeal of Law 30230 and the elimination of the figure of "cession of use" in the forests.

Proposals to address climate change

The Unity Pact proposes to approve and implement the National Community Adaptation Program (PRONACC) as an integrated and realistic response to climate change which is oriented to reassess and enhance the contribution of indigenous communities, with a budget and measurable indicators.

While industrialized countries are primarily interested in mitigation measures, the indigenous community coalition stressed that community climate adaptation primarily seeks to support vulnerable populations and take advantage of their solidary organizational capacity.

• Unity Pact climate change proposals (21 July, 2014) PDF, 4 pages.

Regional gathering in Tarapoto

Between January 19 and 20, the Unity Pact held its IV Macroregional Congress in the city of Tarapoto, to validate the coalition´s political position and place the priorities of indigenous peoples on the public agenda.

The two-day conference will refine the position of the Pact on issues of identity, Mother Earth, land, consultation and consent, indigenous jurisdiction, criminalization of leaders and local and regional institutions.

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Translated from Spanish by Luis Manuel Claps for IWGIA and Servindi.