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Covid-19 is still a grave reality, now with a new strain of the virus spreading across the world. When the pandemic first began, we did not expect it to last this long, and no one expected that it would spread so widely and have such a disastrous impact. As we move into 2021, it continues to be crucial to maintain social distance, avoid large groups of people, wash or sanitize our hands and wear masks consistently to stop the spread of the virus.

Produced by Shaldon Ferris
Voice and Translation: Alice Tipap

After months of clinical trials by many companies in different countries, several vaccines, which are 94-95% effective, have finally been approved and are now making their way to hospitals, clinics and doctors rooms. Successful trials of the vaccines have taken place with medical professionals and the elderly. Vaccines against COVID-19 will be available to us soon.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris
Voice and Translation: Alice Tipap

Limited access to basic health services remains a big problem for Indigenous communities across all continents. Indigenous populations in many countries have experienced poorer health outcomes compared to non-Indigenous populations. Mainstream health services have not adequately met the health needs of Indigenous Peoples in both rural and urban settings.

The coronavirus  (COVID-19)  pandemic  poses  a grave  health threat to Indigenous peoples around the world. Indigenous communities already experience poor access to healthcare, significantly higher rates of communicable and non-communicable diseases, lack of access to essential services, sanitation,  and  other key  preventive measures, such as  clean water, soap, disinfectant, etc.
Produced by
Shaldon Ferris
Interviewee: Shani Mangola (Hadza)
Music: Whispers by Ziibiwan, used with permission.
Image: Shani Mangola

Según rtve indica que hasta la fecha existen más de 44,7 millones de casos y más de 1,1 millones de muertos en todo el mundo por Covid-19.

Esta crisis sanitaria afectado mayormente a los pueblos Indígenas. Los comunicadores comunitarios Indígenas han cumplido con un rol fundamental en cuanto a llevar información hasta sus comunidades en respuesta a la poca o nula información sobre prevención y cuidados por covid-19.

Según rtve indica que hasta la fecha existen más de 44,7 millones de casos y más de 1,1 millones de muertos en todo el mundo por Covid-19.

Esta crisis sanitaria afectado mayormente a los pueblos Indígenas. Los comunicadores comunitarios Indígenas han cumplido con un rol fundamental en cuanto a llevar información hasta sus comunidades en respuesta a la poca o nula información sobre prevención y cuidados por covid-19.

The right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent means that governments have to inform indigenous communities about any development projects they want to start in their territories, and listen to their opinions before beginning the project.

The right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent belongs to all Indigenous Peoples.

Indigenous communities should not let governments continue to destroy their territories and violate their right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent.

It is important that indigenous communities elect leaders who will fight for the interests of their people and not the interests of the government.

Article 10 of the UN Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples states that no one can forcibly displace indigenous communities from their territories.

States must obtain Free, Prior and Informed Consent from Indigenous Peoples before taking legislative or administrative measures which will affect them.

Governments cannot store dangerous materials on Indigenous Peoples’ lands without their Free, Prior and Informed Consent.

States should obtain Free, Prior and Informed Consent before approving any development project that will affect the lands and resources of Indigenous Peoples.

The UN Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples along with other international instruments, recognises the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent as a right of Indigenous Peoples.

For Indigenous Peoples, the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent is a fundamental, inherent and inalienable right.

Governments are obligated to comply with the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent that belongs to all Indigenous Peoples.

The negotiation process between the government and Indigenous Peoples should be free of threats, bribes or any manipulation by the government of the decisions of Indigenous Peoples.

It is important that indigenous communities obtain sufficient information prior to the start of a project in order to have an accurate discussion about the potential changes.

It is important to have all the information about the potential impacts of development projects on the environment, the community and the people. The information should be available in a way in which everyone can understand, and in the native language of the people it will affect.

The right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent is stated in national and international laws, and can be applied in defence of lands and territories when there is a project that will cause irreparable damage.

It is important to demand that this law is complied with because it protects the environment, guarantees clean water and air, and it is a mechanism of controlling development projects to ensure that truly benefit indigenous communities.

The right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent clearly states that the government should not force people to change their method of organisation, thinking, or decision making, nor spread inaccurate information to misinform Indigenous Peoples.

In order to ensure that the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent is complied with, there should be community meetings which make people aware of what is happening and could happen in their area. In addition to this, projects must be supervised in order to ensure that decisions made in the community meetings, are implemented during the development project.