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#Peru's #Indigenous leaders raise concerns over #OilAndGas projects

The leaders presented evidence of the impact of oil and gas exploration at a hearing before the Inter-American Commission on #HumanRights

Steven Grattan, Associated Press
March 7, 2025

BOGOTA, #Colombia — "Indigenous leaders from the #PeruvianAmazon who are calling for the government to stop oil and gas projects in their territory took their case to an international human rights body on Tuesday.

"The leaders presented evidence of the impact of oil and gas exploration at a hearing before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. They said the projects violate #IndigenousRights by threatening their #land, #health and #FoodSecurity and are in breach of international obligations that require Indigenous groups to be consulted.

"The Indigenous leaders are represented by the Interethnic Association for the Development of the #PeruvianRainforest, or #AIDESEP. The group argues that the projects also pose risks to #UncontactedIndigenous groups and also noted specific impact on Indigenous women.

"During the meeting, the Peruvian government said it is a democratic state which respects law and guarantees human rights to all its citizens and that it is committed to strengthening it.

"But #JulioCusurichiPalacios, a member of AIDESEP’s Board of Directors from the Madre de Dios region of the Amazon said the government 'have stated things that are not in accordance with what is happening in reality.'

"'The rights of Indigenous peoples are not being respected, the contamination of our rivers and territories continues, there are threats to #uncontacted Indigenous Peoples, more regulations that make environmental standards more flexible, and oil and gas lots continue to be promoted,' he told The Associated Press after the hearing.

"The government denied most of the claims made by the Indigenous groups and did not reply to AP’s requests for comment."

Source:
https://ictnews.org/news/perus-indigenous-leaders-raise-concerns-over-oil-and-gas-projects
#BigOilAndGas #IndigenousRights #LeaveItInTheGround #WaterIsLife #AmazonRainforest #IndigenousNews #IndigenousPeoples