CALL TO STATE AUTHORITIES, MULTILATERAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND SOCIETY IN GENERAL
Indigenous peoples in isolation or initial contact in South America. Epidemiological and Territorial Vulnerability in the Context of Covid-19.
The International Working Group for the Protection of Indigenous Peoples in Situation of Isolation and Initial Contact – GTI PIACI coordinated a reunion to address the epidemiological and territorial vulnerabilities of indigenous peoples in situations of isolation and initial contact, in the context of Latin America. South. It took place in Brazil, – April 2020 within the scope of the “Camp Terra Livre – 2020.”
The reunion above concluded that the PIACI, even before the COVID 19 pandemic, was already subject to a highly vulnerable situation, currently, this has increased to a situation of EXTREME VULNERABILITY.
We warn of the urgent need for states to establish IMMEDIATE ACTIONS together with indigenous peoples and their representations (national and regional) to define and implement concrete measures to protect PIACI from this pandemic.
In view of the internalization of Sars-CoV-2 in the indigenous territories in the countries of South America and the possibility that a tragedy will reach the PIACI. In light of the statement issued by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, José Francisco Cali said: “COVID-19 is devastating indigenous communities in the world in terms of health,” we present the following URGENT initiatives to be adopted by States with PIACI registries from Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela and Suriname.
This moment is urgent. The COVID-19 pandemic has already entered indigenous territories and the number of infected indigenous people increases exponentially every day. The time for reflections has passed. We now need concrete actions to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.
PIACI protection involves the immediate removal of all invaders from their (and adjacent) territories to avoid Sars-CoV-2 transmission vectors.
ACTION NOW! ACCIÓN AHORA! AÇÃO JÁ!
Proposals:
• Strengthen the participation of the movement and indigenous associations to promote actions of social isolation/distance and mitigation of the pandemic
• Definition and immediate implementation of an Indigenous Emergency Plan against COVID-19
• Specific action plan for indigenous peoples in a situation of isolation and initial contact – PIACI
• Establishment of “sanitary cords” around the Territorial and Indigenous Reserves
• Prevent the passage and presence of external actors towards indigenous territories, particularly in areas inhabited by PIACI
• Ensure that all health professionals undergo COVID-19 tests (with PCR) and have a clinical evaluation before entering indigenous lands
• Establishment of quarantine for all EMSI professionals, considering the best possible relationship between quarantine time/length of service (for indigenous peoples), in health units
• Establishment of field hospitals and /or intermediate reference units equipped with medicines and oxygen supply in strategic locations within and outside of indigenous lands
• Health teams trained and prepared for emergency situations, in accordance with contingency protocols
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH REGIONAL
Grupo de Trabalho Internacional para a proteção dos PIACI – GTI PIACI (20 Indigenous Organization and 8 allies in South America)
BOLIVIA
Central de Comunidades Indígenas Tacana II – Rio Madre de Dios – CITRMD
BRASIL
Coordenação das Organizações Indígenas da Amazônia Brasileira – COIAB
COLOMBIA
Amazon Conservation Team -ACT – Colômbia
EQUADOR
Fondo Ecuatoriano Populorum Progressio-FEPP. Land is Life – LIL
PARAGUAI
Iniciativa Amotocodie – IA Organización Payipie Ichadie Totobiogosode – OPIT
PERU
Asociación Interétnica de Desarrollo de la Selva Peruana – AIDESEP
Federación Nativa del Rio Madre de Dios y Afluentes – FENAMAD
Organización Regional de los Pueblos Indígenas del Oriente
ORPIO SURINAME Organización de los Pueblos Indígenas de Suriname (OIS)
VENEZUELA
Grupo de Trabajo Socioambiental de la Amazonía – WATANIBA
Organización Regional de Pueblos Indígenas de Amazonia – ORPIA
