Indigenous peoples in Peru

There are 4 million indigenous peoples in Peru, who are comprised by some 55 groups speaking 47 languages. In 2007, Peru voted in favour of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

New documentary: UCHUNYA Where Will We Live?

Written on 23 May 2016. Posted in Peru

A new short video looks at the impacts of deforestation and aggressive palm oil expansion on the Shipibo community of Santa Clara de Uchunya in the Peruvian Amazon. The video, based on community testimonies, tells the story of how Plantaciones de Pucallpa S.A.C., a member of a group of companies controlled by businessman Dennis Melka, acquired and subsequently deforested over 5,000 hectares of the community’s ancestral forests from 2012 onwards.

The community's efforts to gain recognition of their territorial rights span more than 30 years and have now reached a critical point, as lack of secure tenure left the community vulnerable to this land grab and its ensuing social and environmental impacts. The ongoing legal case of Santa Clara de Uchunya is emblematic, in that its outcome will have far-reaching consequences for the future of the Peruvian Amazon and its indigenous peoples.

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IWGIA - International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs - is a global human rights organisation dedicated to promoting and defending Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Read more.

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