In this two-minute video, Belén Páez, President of our sister organization, Fundación Pachamama, expresses how the work the organization has been engaged in with our indigenous partners, helping them defend their communities and ancestral territories from oil and mining development, is more important than ever.
Prior to being illegally shut down by Ecuador's government, Fundación Pachamama supported our indigenous allies in a number of areas including providing legal advice, funding for collective assembly, supporting eco-tourism and sustainable livelihood efforts, and implementing safe birthing education and practices through the Jungle Mamas program. All of these areas are essential to our indigenous partners' ability to exercise self-determination.
Despite the shutdown, the advocacy work continues. Belén Páez states, "It is really important to continue working for the indigenous peoples and the tropical rainforest, but also for all human beings."
Additionally, representatives of the organization will attend the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights' topic hearing titled “Situation of the Right to Freedom of Association and Environmental Defenders in Ecuador” next Friday, March 28th in Washington DC.
