Since the 1 February military coup and the declaration of the long state of emergency in Myanmar, over 600 people including Indigenous Peoples have been killed by the Myanmar Military in violent and systematic crackdowns on peaceful pro-democracy protests. The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar has said the military junta’s violence against peaceful protestors could amount to crimes against humanity. A number of countries including the US, UK and European Union have condemned and accused the military as the ‘reign of terror’ .

Indigenous leaders asserted that a disproportionate number of indigenous persons, who constitute approximately 5 percent of the country’s population, were killed during their interactions with law enforcement. In June a media outlet reported that, according to its analysis of all police shootings over the previous three years, an indigenous person was 10 times more likely than a white person to be killed by police. The media outlet found that 38 percent of individuals killed by police between January 2017 and June 2020 were indigenous.

The report is based on information gathered by the ARISA team during virtual meetings, telephone calls and email correspondence with representatives of indigenous communities and indigenous people’s organizations (IPOs) from Angola, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. In addition, ARISA conducted a literature review and analysis of relevant laws and regulations related to COVID-19 in Southern Africa. The San community make up the largest group of indigenous peoples of this population. As a result, this paper mainly focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on the rights of the San indigenous community

The concept of indigenous identity is highly contested in sub-Saharan Africa,1 though this attitude may be changing.2 Since this concept is absolutely central to the studies of land laws that follow, it is important to clarify both the debate over ‘indigenous peoples’ in the African context, and our position within this debate.

It is a turbulent time in international relations, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region where security concerns dominate policy discussions daily. In this environment, some important issues are getting far too little attention, especially on the international stage, and the status of Tibet is one of these issues. It is an important moment to shine a light on the events in Tibet, especially with significant legislation on this topic pending before this committee.

The western hemisphere is home to the largest number of indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation and initial contact in the world. They are the last peoples who were not colonized and who do not have permanent relations with today’s predominant national societies. These peoples and their ancestors have lived in the Americas since long before current States came into existence. Today, very few of them survive, and many are at risk of disappearing entirely

This report argues that the international community must act urgently to protect the Hmong in the Xaisomboun Province, not only for the sake of the Hmong there, but also to ensure that the government’s policies there do not spread to all rural ethnic minority and indigenous communities across Laos.

This month, the state of Wisconsin joins all Wisconsinites in denouncing all forms of hate, embracing our diversity, celebrating the many Hmong communities across our state, and reaffirming our commitment to working towards a Wisconsin that is a safe, diverse, welcoming, and inclusive place for all.

Steps shall be taken by the United States Government to promote the human rights and distinct religious, cultural, linguistic, and historical identity of the Tibetan people, including the right of the Tibet people to select, educate, and venerate their own religious leaders in accordance with their established religious practice and system.

This report was researched and written collaboratively by Dawei Civil Society Organizations and documents the environmental and social impacts of the Ban Chaung coal mining project in Dawei District of Myanmar’s Tanintharyi Region. Based on desk research, interviews with villagers, and direct engagement with companies and government, it exposes how the project was pushed ahead despite clear opposition from the local community. It documents the serious harm that has already been done to villagers’ health, livelihoods, security, and way of life, and the devastating contamination of local rivers and streams. It calls for the suspension of Mayflower Mining Company’s permit and operations at Ban Chaung until this harm is remedied and the project is effectively evaluated, monitored, and regulated in compliance with Myanmar law and international best practice. It advocates that local villagers should be given the opportunity to take ownership of their own path to development.