About IWGIAIndigenous peoples in Paraguay
The 2008 Indigenous Household Survey (EHI 2008) gives an approximate indigenous population of 108,803, or around 2% of the Paraguayan population.
There are 20 recorded indigenous peoples in Paraguay belonging to 5 different linguistic families:
-
Guaraní (Aché, Avá Guaraní, Mbya, Pai Tavytera, Guaraní Ñandeva, Guaraní Occidental)
-
Maskoy (Toba Maskoy, Enlhet Norte, Enxet Sur, Sanapaná, Toba, Angaité, Guaná)
-
Mataco Mataguayo (Nivaclé, Maká, Manjui)
-
Zamuco (Ayoreo, Yvytoso, Tomáraho)
-
Guaicurú (Toba Qom)
In the North of the Paraguayan Chaco forest, a group of indigenous Ayoreo people live in voluntary isolation, although under constant threat of encroachment.
Favourable legal framework
Paraguay enjoys a favourable legal framework for the recognition of indigenous peoples’ rights, having transposed ILO Convention 169 into its domestic legislation in 1993.
Paraguay also voted in favour of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007.
Human rights violations
Despite the favourable legal framework, indigenous peoples in Paraguay continue to suffer serious human rights violations and illegal evictions from their lands. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled against Paraguay in relation to violations of the human rights of two Enxet communities and one Sanapaná community in 2005, 2006 and 2010 respectively. To date, these rulings have not been implemented.
Download the 2011 yearbook article on indigenous peoples in Paraguay to read more about major developments and events during 2010
