IWGIA

🚨IWGIA is deeply concerned with Myanmar's adoption of the Private Security Service Law, which permits foreign companies to provide armed security. This development poses a grave threat to Indigenous Peoples in Myanmar, who already face militarization and significant violations of their rights to self-governance over their territories. The emergence of private security forces, particularly for resource extraction, is likely to exacerbate the ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous communities. These communities are already vulnerable, and the powerful private sector is poised to take advantage of the situation, prioritizing profit over the rights and well-being of the local populations. ✊ We stand in solidarity with #IndigenousPeoples of #Myanmar and call for international community to condemn this new move by the junta. 👉 Read more: https://bit.ly/4ifNYOI #IndigenousRights #Myanmar #EndMilitarization

🚨 IWGIA condemns the arrest of Ringrong Mro, a key leader fighting for Indigenous land rights in Lama, Bandarban. His detention is seen as retaliation for his activism against illegal land grabs by Lama Rubber Industries. We strongly call on authorities to ensure that those responsible for human rights violations are held accountable, and to cease their assaults on activists like Ringrong and other land defenders and withdraw false charges. Justice for Indigenous communities! 👉 Read more: https://bit.ly/4gULeoz #FreeRingrongMro #LandRights #CHT #Indigenous #IndigenousPeoples #Bangladesh 🇧🇩

🇧🇩 Bangladesh: Perpetuating Impunity and Exclusion of Indigenous Peoples After the protests in August 2024, Indigenous Peoples had hoped for an improvement of the implementation of their rights with the establishment of the Interim Government under Dr Mohammed Yunus using the term Indigenous Peoples, but the situation remains alarming. IWGIA has remained concerned about the state of Indigenous Peoples' rights in the country. ❗We have seen increased human rights violations largely with impunity under the Interim Government, continued non-implementation of the CHT Accord, and the exclusion of Indigenous Peoples from reform and other processes. On the opening of the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council, IWGIA has submitted a written statement on the situation. 👉 Read our statement here: https://bit.ly/4iagPUh #Bangladesh #Indigenous #IndigenousPeoples #HumanRights #CHT #Chittagong

‼️Informaciones recientes confirman que el gobierno de EE. UU. está realizando reducciones significativas en sus contribuciones financieras al sistema de derechos humanos de la ONU, lo que genera preocupaciones muy graves sobre el futuro de lis mecanismos de protección global de los derechos humanos. ✂️El 4 de febrero, #Trump emitió una Orden Ejecutiva que retira a EE. UU. y termina con el financiamiento de ciertas organizaciones de la #ONU, incluida la Comisión de Derechos Humanos, lo que señala un alejamiento más amplio de las instituciones multilaterales de derechos humanos. 📉El gobierno de EE. UU. también ha decidido reducir drásticamente su contribución financiera al Sistema Interamericano, particularmente a la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. Esta decisión ya está teniendo un impacto catastrófico en esta crucial institución regional de derechos humanos y debilitará considerablemente las protecciones para los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas en las Américas. 📣IWGIA insta a todos los gobiernos, funcionarios de alto nivel de la ONU y la comunidad internacional de derechos humanos a tomar medidas decisivas. Las consecuencias de estos recortes serán duraderas y profundamente dañinas. Hacemos un llamado a todos los Estados a aumentar sus contribuciones al Sistema de Derechos Humanos de la ONU para compensar la retirada de EE. UU. ✊Ahora es el momento de unirse en defensa de los derechos humanos, la paz y la seguridad, así como los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas. La comunidad internacional no debe permanecer en silencio ante este ataque a los mismos principios de no discriminación, justicia e igualdad que la ONU fue creada para defender. 👉 Lee nuestra declaración completa aquí: https://bit.ly/3QvFOFY 👈 #DerechosHumanos #PueblosIndígenas #NacionesUnidas

✨ Today on #InternationalMotherLanguageDay, let's celebrate the world's linguistic diversity. 🌍 According to the UN, #IndigenousPeoples, though only 6% of the global population, speak over 4,000 of the world’s 6,700 languages. Yet it is estimated, that one Indigenous language disappears every two weeks, threatening millennia of knowledge, identity, and culture. 💡 Preserving #IndigenousLanguages means safeguarding cultural diversity and empowering Indigenous Peoples' self-determination. Let’s honor these languages and the invaluable wisdom and heritage they carry. #Indigenous #IndigenousPeoplesRights #selfdetermination #HumanRights

Award-winning documentary 'Where the Trees Grow' to screen at 5th Bogura Film Festival 2025 The deeply moving documentary Where the Trees Grow, which won Best Environmental Film at the Toronto International Women Film Festival, has been officially selected to screen at the 5th Bogura Film Festival, taking place from 20–22 February 2025 in Bogura, Bangladesh. This film is more than just a story—it is a testimony to the resilience, strength, and deep-rooted connection Indigenous Peoples in Thailand and Malaysia, particularly in Sabah, have with their ancestral lands. It captures their ongoing fight to protect these lands from large-scale developments, including dam constructions and oil palm plantations, which threaten not only their homes but also the delicate balance of rich, biodiverse ecosystems. For Amanda and Junia, two Indigenous Kadazan youths from Sabah, this journey to Bogura is especially meaningful. As part of the production team, they played key roles—driving to remote filming locations, interpreting and translating, and ensuring that the voices of their communities were heard. Junia, who was also interviewed in the film, shares a deeply personal perspective on the challenges her people face. The selection of Where the Trees Grow at yet another international festival is a powerful reminder that these stories need to be told, and more importantly, heard. It is a celebration of Indigenous resistance, culture, and love for the land—a call for justice that continues to echo across borders. Watch the trailer here: https://lnkd.in/gc8ZA-sf Watch the film here: https://bit.ly/4jJfRAg PACOS Trust

🔙 #TBT A powerful documentary that brings to light the ongoing struggle of Indigenous Peoples in Thailand and Malaysia (Sabah) as they fight to protect their ancestral lands. 🌱 This thought-provoking film reveals the deep connection between these Peoples and the rich, biodiverse environments they call home. Through compelling storytelling, it explores the devastating threats posed by dams and #OilPalmPlantations, which put their cultures, livelihoods and the ecosystems they protect at risk. ✊ Let’s honor #IndigenousPeoples fight and commitment to safeguarding the Earth’s future. 🔗 Watch the full documentary here: https://bit.ly/3Eapzvd #Indigenous #IndigenousRights #EnvironmentalJustice #WhereTheTreesGrow

‼️Recent developments confirm that the U.S. government is making significant reductions in its financial contributions to the UN Human Rights system, raising serious concerns about the future of global human rights protections. ✂️On 4 Feb, #Trump issued an Executive Order withdrawing the #US from and ending funding to certain #UN organizations, including the Human Rights Council, signaling a broader disengagement from multilateral human rights institutions. 👉 Read our full statement here//bit.ly/4hTWKBI 👈 📉The U.S. govt has also decided to severely reduce its financial contribution to the Inter-American System, particularly to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. This decision is already having a catastrophic impact on this crucial regional human rights institution and will considerably weaken protections for Indigenous Peoples' rights in the Americas. 📣IWGIA urges all governments, high-level UN officials, and the international human rights community to take decisive action. The consequences of these cuts will be long-lasting and deeply damaging. We call on all States to increase their contributions to the UN Human Rights System to compensate for the U.S. withdrawal. ✊Now is the time to stand together in defense of human rights, peace, and security, as well as the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The international community must not remain silent in the face of this assault on the very principles of non-discrimination, justice and equality that the UN was created to uphold. 👉 Read our full statement here//bit.ly/4hTWKBI 👈 #HumanRights #IndigenousPeoples #UnitedNations

IWGIA is pleased to once again join the deliberations at the 7th Global Meeting of the Indigenous Peoples Forum at IFAD—a crucial platform for dialogue and partnership to advance the rights of Indigenous Peoples. We congratulate IFAD on this important gathering. 👉 More here: https://bit.ly/4hSBqMN #IndigenousPeoples #HumanRights

🌍 Today, on #InternationalDayOfZeroToleranceForFemaleGenitalMutilation, we spotlight Judy Kipkenda of the Ogiek people in Kenya. As an Indigenous woman and human rights defender, Judy sheds light on the intersectional violence faced by Indigenous women and girls - who make up roughly 3% of the global population but endure disproportionate poverty, marginalization, and discrimination. ✨ This day reminds us of the urgent need to challenge gender-based violence, harmful stereotypes, and systemic discrimination against #IndigenousWomen and girls - both online and offline. Ending these practices is essential for achieving equality, justice, and dignity for all women. ✊ Together, let’s amplify voices like Judy’s, support survivors, and stand united to #EndFGM and all forms of violence against women and girls. 🔗 Watch the full video here: https://bit.ly/3CGXVoS #IndigenousPeoples #Indigenous #HumanRights #GenderEquality