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Addressee: UNPFII, Government of Bolivia, Government of Paraguay
Full Text
The Permanent Forum has learned from indigenous peoples’ communications, which have been corroborated by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, that in the Chaco region there are Guaraní communities in a practical state of slavery. According to the Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery, as well as the articles 17, 26 and 28 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Forum strongly supports the efforts of the current Government of Bolivia and the commitment of the incoming Government of Paraguay to discontinue this enslaving practice and return indigenous lands to their lawful owners, the Guaraní themselves.
Responses
The Government of Bolivia reports: (c) The Inter-ministerial Council for the Eradication of Servitude, instituted by Supreme Decree No. 29292 of 3 October 2007, which is currently working to eradicate servitude and liberate captive Guaraní families living on landowners’ estates. The aim is to guarantee and restore the exercise of the fundamental human rights of our brothers of the Bolivian Chaco;
Final Report of UNPFII Session 7 (2008)
Area of Work
