Indigenous and afro-descendant peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean have been essential actors in the protection of nature, of key ecosystems and, in short, of the lives of all beings that inhabit the planet.
At the same time, they have historically suffered discrimination, exclusion and the violation of their rights, seeing their survival threatened.
In the context of the global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the vulnerability of indigenous and afro-descendant peoples in the regionhas increased due to: the lack of guarantees for their economic social, culture and environmental rights; the need for differentiated response measures; and the relaxation of environmental and participatory processes.
Protecting these peoples so that the pandemic does not threaten their lives and integrity is a moral and historic duty, and an international obligation of all States. We’ve outlined five measures States can take to immediately protect these vulnerable communities.
