A recent report by Survival International has revealed that the United Nations has been complicit in the violent eviction of Indigenous people from six World Heritage Sites in Africa and Asia. These sites, which are frequently the stolen ancestral lands of Indigenous peoples, are being forcibly kept out through intimidation and terror. The organization’s director, Caroline Pearce, stated that UNESCO, the scientific and cultural branch of the U.N., must revoke World Heritage Status from any site where such abuses are occurring.
The report highlights several instances where UNESCO has endorsed forced evictions of Indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands. In 2010, UNESCO recommended that the Maasai population and their cattle should not exceed the capacity of Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania. However, this decision resulted in reports of Maasai being arrested, tortured, and having their cattle stolen, with the government even cutting off health services in an effort to drive them away. A Maasai leader expressed feeling sick and confused, attributing the evictions to UNESCO’s endorsement.
In 2018, UNESCO advised the Democratic Republic of the Congo to expel illegal occupants from Kahuzi-Beiga National Park, resulting in the removal of Indigenous Batwa individuals. A subsequent report from Minority Rights Group accused Congolese soldiers of rape, murder, and burning alive over 20 Batwa individuals. One Batwa woman recounted being assaulted by soldiers in 2021 while expressing her resolve to remain in the forest despite the dangers.
The report also highlights forced evictions from Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of Congo, Kaziranga National Park in India, Chitwan National Park in Nepal, and Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex in Thailand. Despite these allegations, UNESCO denied any involvement and emphasized its commitment to upholding the rights of Indigenous peoples in managing World Heritage Sites.
Overall, this new report raises serious concerns about UNESCO’s role in enforcing forced evictions against Indigenous peoples who are simply trying to live on their ancestral lands. It is crucial that organizations like Survival International continue to shine a light on these issues and advocate for change at both local and international levels to ensure that all people have access to their fundamental human rights.
In conclusion, it is clear that UNESCO needs to take a more proactive approach when it comes to protecting Indigenous peoples’ rights within its designated World Heritage Sites. While denying any involvement may seem like an easy way out for some countries or governments involved with these issues; it will not stop people from speaking out or taking action against those who violate human rights laws.
As we continue our efforts towards preserving cultural heritage sites globally; we must also remember that protecting those sites means respecting all communities living near them – including indigenous ones whose land ownership is often ignored or undermined by powerful forces such as governments or corporations looking for resources or tourist attractions.
We urge UNESCO to review its policies regarding indigenous communities’ rights within its protected areas and work closely with local communities as well as international organizations like Survival International towards creating sustainable solutions that balance conservation efforts with indigenous people’s livelihoods and cultural traditions without sacrificing their human rights dignity or freedom.
