#indgenous

Im a proud Trans Indigenous Dyke and it's taken me years to be able to say that.

“Anne-Sophie Gindroz, RRI's facilitator for South East Asia, said that the law isn't only failing indigenous communities when it comes to awarding them title to their traditional lands. Perpetrators of violence are rarely brought to justice, she said, as there is widespread impunity for those who commit violence against indigenous peoples."

At the same time, justice systems can be used against indigenous human rights defenders," Gindroz added. "In Indonesia, for example, people have been arrested for remaining on their land after it was granted to palm oil companies by the government."

As the special rapporteur's report shows, violence and criminalization are not reserved solely for the indigenous activists standing up to protect their people's lands. Lawyers and civil society advocates who work with indigenous peoples are often targets as well. Gindroz herself was expelled from the Lao People's Democratic Republic for her advocacy work.”