announced a new program expanding their commitment to protect Indigenous People who defend environmental and human rights in the Peruvian Amazon.
On November 20,
Administrator Samantha Power introduced the
program during her visit to the rainforest city of Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios region, in recognition of the key role of Indigenous defenders.
Indigenous defenders are on the frontline when it comes to the impact of threats such as illegal mining, logging, and land theft.
Amid a growing context of violence, harassment, and intimidation, Indigenous leaders play a crucial and courageous role in monitoring illegal activities and protecting biodiverse landscapes.
Aware of these challenges,
USAID is
bolstering the efforts of local indigenous organizations and government authorities to address safety threats and issues of impunity, improve effective protections, and uphold fundamental rights for defenders.
With an investment of US$2.5 million, the Indigenous Defenders Justice (IDJ) initiative will focus on Loreto, Madre de Dios, and Ucayali regions where illicit activity is widespread and threats to Indigenous defenders are common.
The program will be implemented by Profonanpe, Environmental Fund of Peru, in alliance with AIDESEP (Inter-Ethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Jungle), and the DAR (Law, Environment, and Natural Resources).
This initiative aims to reinforce connection between Indigenous communities' self-protection efforts and government initiatives, strengthening the enabling environment for policies that safeguard the rights and protections of Indigenous defenders of the Amazon.
USAID's
support for Peruvian Indigenous and environmental defenders comes at a critical time as, according to Global Witness, Peru ranks among the world's top ten most dangerous countries for human rights defenders, especially those working in the Amazon.
Approximately 36 Amazon defenders have been killed in Peru since 2014, most of them Indigenous.
USAID is c
ommitted to supporting Peru's Indigenous Peoples by ensuring respect towards the guaranteed exercise of their rights, promoting secure effective protections, and ending impunity.