News

06.05.2019

Climate Alliance partner COICA speaks at UN Meeting in New York

Representatives of Climate Alliance’s main indigenous partner organisation, COICA, made an important contribution to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Affairs (UNPFII) in New York. "It is difficult to make proposals when the doors are closed," explained Gregorio Mirabal, COICA President. In a passionate speech, he highlighted the difficulties situation in which indigenous communities in Brazil find themselves under the newly elected President Jair Bolsonaro. He called for the creation of protected areas in Amazonia and support for social activists who are fighting on behalf of the rainforest and the people who live there. Many activists, such as Climate Alliance Vice President Robinson Lopéz Descanse, face death threats as a result of their efforts. Descanse made use of the forum to draw attention to states and multinational companies that exploit the "lungs of the world" for economic gains without respect for the rights of indigenous people or the environment.

The 18th meeting of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Affairs in New York ended last Friday. From 22 April to 3 May, over 1,000 indigenous representatives participated in the forum, which carried the theme of Traditional Knowledge: Generations, Transmission and Protection. The event underlined the importance of indigenous knowledge for climate action. The meeting served to draw attention to the political and legal situation of indigenous peoples and promote and exchange views on possible courses of action.

Below you can find more information on the results of the meeting as well as short summaries of COICA's contributions.

Further information

Contact

Silke Lunnebach, s.lunnebach@climatealliance.org