The Indigenous World 2023: Burundi

Written by Morgane Jaouen on 23 March 2023.

The term “Twa” is used to describe minority populations historically marginalised both politically and socially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

The Indigenous World 2023: Botswana

Written by Morgane Jaouen on 23 March 2023.

Botswana is a country of 2,359,659 inhabitants,^[1] having celebrated its 56^th year of independence in 2022. Its government does not recognize any specific ethnic groups as Indigenous, maintaining instead that all citizens of the country

The Indigenous World 2023: Algeria

Written by Morgane Jaouen on 23 March 2023.

The Amazigh are the Indigenous people of Algeria and other countries of North Africa. The Algerian government does not, however, recognize the Indigenous status of the Amazigh and refuses to publish statistics on their population. Because of this, there is no official data on the number of

IWGIA Statement from the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 67

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 10 March 2023.

Commission on the Status of Women

Sixty-seventh session

Priority theme; Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and

Input for the Thematic Report on Tourism of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 08 March 2023.

Tourism projects are often designed and implemented without respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the right to self-determination; lands, territories and resources; free prior and informed consent; as well as economic, social and cultural rights. Furthermore, the travel

Establishing monitoring mechanisms at the national and regional level for implementation of the UN Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 01 March 2023.

This written statement is submitted to the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in response to the call for submission on: “Establishing monitoring mechanisms at the national and regional level for implementation of the UN Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples.”

“We are invisible; we are ghosts”: Inuit in Denmark and Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland)

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 27 February 2023.

“I’m one of the kids that was stolen from Greenland to Denmark back in the 1970s. I grew up in a Danish family, with Danish traditions, and we never spoke about Greenland. Not a word. I lost my language, my mother tongue. In my school we never learned about Greenland, our history, culture or

Expectations and uncertainties for Latin America's Indigenous Peoples as a new year begins

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 20 January 2023.

The end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 finds Indigenous Peoples in Latin America shaken by an escalation of political and social conflicts that threatens the effective implementation of their rights. We examine some of the main events that have taken place over the last days and weeks in

Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord 25 Years Later: Indigenous Peoples Still at Serious Risk

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 30 November 2022.

On 2 December 1997, the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord was signed, giving hope for lasting peace and development for the Indigenous Peoples of the CHT. However, today, as we mark the 25^th anniversary of the peace accord, Indigenous Peoples in the CHT in Bangladesh have

Nothing about us without us: Indigenous Peoples at the 41st Universal Periodic Review of states' human rights records

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 21 November 2022.

Last Friday 18 November concluded in Geneva the 41^st session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group, the mechanism that examines the human rights record of UN Member States.

Press release: IWGIA’s immediate reaction to the COP 27 outcome

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 20 November 2022.

IWGIA's reaction on the outcome of COP27

19 November 2022

Recognition of Indigenous Peoples in Nationally Determined Contributions

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 31 October 2022.

Indigenous Peoples positioned themselves in multilateral climate negotiations through their advocacy. Although the international community gradually recognises Indigenous Peoples’ contributions to climate governance, a rights-based approach in national climate action is still largely

IWGIA Statement to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Human Rights Situation in Africa

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 27 October 2022.

IWGIA prepared the following statement and submitted it to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights at its 73rd session in October 2022.

Indigenous Peoples in Africa are increasingly losing their ancestral lands through land grabbing and forced evictions, which threaten their

IWGIA Senior Advisor Marianne Wiben Jensen reflects on 20+ years of work with the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples in Africa

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 24 June 2022.

After 20 years of being a member of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa^[1]of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), IWGIA senior advisor Marianne Wiben Jensen, reflects on how it all began, what

The Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa: Celebrating 20 years of Indigenous leadership, standard setting and sensitisation

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 23 June 2022.

Implementing UN Recommendations on Indigenous Women: Understanding barriers and enablers

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 15 June 2022.

In the past two decades, the United Nations has increasingly focused attention on the human rights of Indigenous Peoples. A growing set of UN treaty bodies (TB’s) and mechanisms continually recommend Member States to improve the rights of Indigenous Women.

The Indigenous World 2022

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 28 April 2022.

The Indigenous World is the unique result of a collaborative effort between Indigenous and non-indigenous activists and scholars who voluntarily document and report on the situation of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. For 36 consecutive years IWGIA has published The Indigenous World in

Collective Punishment: Implementation of "Four Cuts"

Written by David Nathaniel Berger on 16 March 2022.

This report details human rights abuses that took place in Mindat Township, Chin State from the period of April to December 2021. In May 2021, Martial Law was imposed on Mindat Town, pre-empting a large-scale assault by air and on the ground in order to engage with the Chin Defense Force –

Threats of forced eviction of the Maasai indigenous pastoralists of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) and Ngorongoro District in Tanzania

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 23 February 2022.

The Maasai indigenous pastoralists of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) and Ngorongoro District in Northern Tanzania are currently under severe threat of forced eviction. According to reliable information received by IWGIA, the situation is very serious and there is panic among the people

Urgent Alert: Threats of forced eviction of the Maasai indigenous pastoralists of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) and Ngorongoro District in Tanzania

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 23 February 2022.

The Maasai indigenous pastoralists of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) and Ngorongoro District in Northern Tanzania are currently under severe threat of forced eviction. According to reliable information received by IWGIA, the situation is very serious and there is panic among the people

University of Arizona’s Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program Hosts the Special Rapporteur and Offers Students Exciting Experiential Learning Opportunities

Written by David Nathaniel Berger on 21 February 2022.

New Online Resource for Indigenous Advocates

Author: Berardino, Sharon Marie

IWGIA commemorates the lives lost in the past year in Myanmar; condemns the brutal military rule

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 01 February 2022.

One year ago today, just hours before the newly elected parliament of Myanmar/Burma was preparing for its first session, the Myanmar military — called the Tatmadaw — staged a coup d’état, toppling the civilian government over what they claimed were irregularities in the electoral process. The

Written submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its causes & consequences: IWGIA inputs to the Report on violence against Indigenous Women and Girls

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 31 January 2022.

Indigenous Peoples all over the world face systemic discrimination rooted in persistent racism as well as past and present colonialism. Many Indigenous communities have been forcefully relocated, lands have been taken away, forests have been destroyed, mountains have been mined and valleys have

70,000 Maasai in Loliondo, Tanzania, face another forceful eviction

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 26 January 2022.

According to reliable information received by Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI) and the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania is currently planning the eviction of the Maasai Indigenous people from a 1,500

Urgent Alert: 70,000 Maasai in Loliondo, Tanzania, face another forceful eviction

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 26 January 2022.

According to reliable information received by Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI) and the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania is currently planning the eviction of the Maasai Indigenous people from a 1,500

Sad news on the passing away of Zéphyrin Kalimba

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 06 January 2022.

It is with deep sadness that IWGIA received the news that Mr. Zéphyrin Kalimba passed away on the 2^nd of January in a hospital in Kigali, Rwanda at the age of 62.

IACHR presents the report: "Right to Self-Determination of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples"

Written by David Nathaniel Berger on 05 January 2022.

This English version is an executive summary. ...

IWGIA & AIPP Joint Submission to the Commission on the Status of Women 66th Session

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 31 December 2021.

There are numerous challenges for Indigenous Women in relation to climate change. Indigenous Women are more severely affected by the challenges to produce or collect sufficient food, or challenges of water scarcity because of climate change (flooding, drought, unpredictable weather,

Condemnation of State Sponsored Violence on Unarmed Civilians in Nagaland, India

Written by David Nathaniel Berger on 13 December 2021.

Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) and The International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), unequivocally condemn the blatant disregard for the human rights of Indigenous Peoples in Nagaland in the recent extrajudicial killings of ...

IWGIA’s reaction to the outcome of COP26

Written by David Nathaniel Berger on 22 November 2021.

IWGIA’s reaction to the outcome of COP26

COP26 was attended by more lobbyists from the fossil fuel industry than representatives of Indigenous

Press Release: Statement on the outcome of COP26

Written by David Nathaniel Berger on 13 November 2021.

IWGIA press statement on the outcome of COP26

13 November 2021

The cost of ignoring human rights and Indigenous Peoples

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 10 November 2021.

In a historic judgment by the Kenyan Environment and Land Court in Meru the title deeds of the land on which the Lake Turkana Wind Project (LTWP) sit have been declared “irregular and unlawful”. The case which began in October 2014 and finally ended on 19 October 2021 found that the title deeds

Indigenous Peoples call for Climate Action at COP 26

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 29 October 2021.

COP26 – the two-week UN Climate Change Conference – begins next week in Glasgow.

As in previous years, IWGIA will be there in partnership and alongside Indigenous Peoples to support their engagement, messages and mission to influence the outcomes of this key climate conference,

Russia’s Indigenous Peoples call for international support to save the Arctic

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 29 October 2021.

Shifting to electric vehicles (EV) is seen as an important step towards a greener future. However, the process ofextracting nickel, a crucial component of EV batteries, very often is not environmental-friendly. The world’s largest producer of nickel, Nornickel, has been destroying

PRESS RELEASE: Civil society calls on world leaders to put human rights at the centre of environmental policy

Written by David Nathaniel Berger on 11 October 2021.

Over 150 civil society organisations and academics sign open letter calling on world leaders to integrate human rights into global and national environmental policy and practice

In the lead-up to historic agreements on climate and nature being made in the next month, more than

New guide: Indigenous Peoples and Climate Technologies from UNEP-DTU

Written by David Nathaniel Berger on 28 September 2021.

Indigenous Peoples' knowledge on climate solutions can play a critical part in climate action. A new guide shows ways to integrate and strengthen Indigenous tech in national Technology Needs Assessments.

Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge of adapting to climatic change and their

Colombian State failing the wayúu children of La Guajira

Written by Laura Pérez Portela on 16 September 2021.

BY JOANNA BARNEY FOR DEBATES INDÍGENAS. 

Despite this Caribbean region’s natural wealth, Wayuu children in La Guajira are dying of hunger and

Towards the conquest of self-determination. 50 Years since the Barbados Declaration

Written by David Nathaniel Berger on 13 September 2021.

50 years since the Barbados Declaration

This year, 2021, marks the 50th anniversary of the historic meeting held on the Caribbean island of Barbados, where a group of 15 anthropologists (14 men and 1 woman) from Amazonian, Central American and European countries met to reflect on the

Criminalization of Pathalgari Movement

Written by David Nathaniel Berger on 03 September 2021.

By Gladson Dungdung

Thousands of Adivasis involved in the “Pathalgari Movement” were criminalized for fighting for their collective rights to self-determination and protection of their lands, territories, and natural resources in Jharkhand State of

Tool launched to assess Indigenous Peoples’ rights in national constitutions

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 09 August 2021.

A publication, reviewed and endorsed by IWGIA, offers a new hands-on method to assess the constitutions of nation-states and their inclusion of Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

Joint Statement: Human rights abuses occurring in the context of the World Heritage nomination of the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (Thailand)

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 30 June 2021.

H.E. Mr. Tian Xuejun, Vice Minister of Education and Chairperson of the National Commission of the People’s Republic of China for UNESCO Chairperson of the extended 44th session of World Heritage Committee Email: This email address is being

Civil Society Condemns Human Rights Violations against Indigenous Peoples in West Papua

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 17 June 2021.

An ongoing armed conflict in West Papua between the Indonesian military and the separatist movement finds ordinary Indigenous Peoples caught in the middle, resulting in deaths and violations of their rights. 

Written submission to CEDAW on the Rights of Indigenous Women and Girls

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 03 June 2021.

With this written submission, the International Work Group on Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) seeks to bring forward the voices, perspectives and experiences of indigenous women and girls, particularly from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Arctic, and to include them in the development of CEDAW’s

Violations Against Indigenous Africa: A website documenting historical and contemporary cases of human rights violations against indigenous peoples of Africa

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2021.

New website documents historical and contemporary cases of human rights violations against indigenous peoples in Africa

Indigenous peoples in Africa continue to suffer from widespread and gross human rights violations, as also documented by IWGIA in its 2021 edition of

The Benet people in Uganda continue to suffer from gross human rights violations

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 05 May 2021.

By Shua Wilmot

The Benet people in Uganda continue to suffer from gross human rights violations at the hands of the Uganda Wildlife Authority. IWGIA is deeply concerned about the situation, and has continued to monitor it. These on-going violations are also documented in IWGIA’s

Regional and International NGOs strongly condemn the gruesome killing of Indigenous Karbi Girl in Assam, Northeast India

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 03 May 2021.

Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), Network of Indigenous Women in Asia (NIWA) and Asia Indigenous Youth Platform (AIYP) strongly condemn the gruesome killing of an Indigenous girl, Sumila Ronghangpi, in Assam, Northeast India.

The Indigenous World 2021

Written by Käthe Jepsen on 28 April 2021.

This compilation is the unique result of a collaborative effort between Indigenous and non-indigenous activists and scholars who voluntarily document and report on the situation of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. We thank them and celebrate the bonds and sense of community that result from the

Human rights groups condemn violence against peaceful protestors in Myanmar

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 02 March 2021.

International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) and Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) strongly condemn the violence used by security forces in Myanmar against peaceful protestors.

Philippines: Drop murder charge against indigenous rights defender, UN experts urge

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 28 January 2021.

GENEVA (28 January 2021) – UN human rights experts today called on Philippine authorities to drop a reportedly unwarranted murder charge against an indigenous rights defender who submitted himself to police after a “shoot to kill” order had been issued if he resisted arrest, and to ensure his

Looking back at a year under COVID-19: Indigenous Peoples’ struggles and resilience during the pandemic

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 January 2021.

Photo: © ILO

Since March 2020, IWGIA has worked to monitor the impacts of the pandemic on Indigenous Peoples around the globe and supported partners in their efforts to protect themselves from the health ramifications of the virus as well as the emergency law procedures enacted in

Strengthening the security of Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Defenders in Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 07 January 2021.

Human rights violations have escalated in Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Indigenous Peoples are disproportionately affected, putting the structural inequalities and discrimination that Indigenous Peoples face into sharper focus as they are met by multiple threats simultaneously. 

Fear of Indigenous constituents in Chile

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 22 December 2020.

The protests in Chile left in evidence that its political-economic system, which for years was considered the successful model to follow, but excludes most of the population, mainly indigenous people. Photo:Leandro Crovetto.

The political caste and economic power have focused their

Training Manual on Business and Human Rights

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 18 December 2020.

Since the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights were promulgated, there have been growing concerns over human rights in business. Indigenous Peoples form the highest proportion of victims of such business activities.

Peru: They messed with the wrong generation

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 17 December 2020.

The protests spread to all the neighborhoods of Lima and cities of the country. Photo: Vidal Carrasco 

It is difficult to explain what happened in our country to outsiders. Even in the country, we are not able to grasp the dimension of the

IACHR complaints cause tension among states

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 14 December 2020.

Urrejola with women from the Qhara Qhara Nation. Photo: IACHR.

The vice-president of the Inter-american Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), Antonia Urrejola, points out that conflicts have always arisen between the Commission and the States concerning recommendations, but that

Indigenous Peoples in Chile’s Constituent process: an unresolved challenge

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 03 December 2020.

The protests succeeded in establishing a constituent process and now special Indigenous seats are being demanded.

The results of the plebiscite held on October 25, 2020 were unequivocal. Four out of five citizens pronounced themselves in favor of a new political constitution. The same

Indigenous peoples in Chile’s Constituent process: an unresolved challenge

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 03 December 2020.

The protests succeeded in establishing a constituent process and now special Indigenous seats are being demanded.

The results of the plebiscite held on October 25, 2020 were unequivocal. Four out of five citizens pronounced themselves in favor of a new political constitution. The same

Failure to comply with autonomous consultation protocols during Covid-19 in Brazil

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 03 December 2020.

Indígena Xakriabá de São João das Missões (Minas Gerais). Foto: Edgar Kanaykõ

Indigenous and

Consultation or non-consultation: Here lies the dilemma

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 27 November 2020.

Prior consultation for lot 192 in 2015. Photo: PUINAMUDT.

In Peru, the Bagua Massacre prompted the adoption of the ILO Convention 169 in response to local demands and international pressure. However, far from respecting the

Epistemic violence against Indigenous Peoples

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 25 November 2020.

The world of the Q'eqchí. Photo: AEPDI - Q'eqchi Ombudsman Office

Injustice regarding the validity of ancestral knowledge has been one of the many racist practices established by the colony. For five centuries, a systematic attack has persisted, in a bid to bring an end to the creation,

The right to prior consultation in Mexico: its shortfalls and limitations

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 23 November 2020.

Indigenous peoples walk towards the rally in front of the Chinameca farm, 100 years after the murder of Emiliano Zapata. Photo: Daliri Oropeza

While we now have a government that

The surprising link between the fight against drugs, land dispossession and attacks on Indigenous rights defenders in Peru

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 19 November 2020.

Arbildo Meléndez Grandes was killed while out hunting and fishing to provide for his family. Photo: Aidesep.

Despite its function being to fight drug trafficking, the National Commission for Development and Life without Drugs (DEVIDA) has been

IWGIA Annual Report 2019

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 31 July 2020.

Indigenous Peoples are at the heart of the struggle for equality, rights, participation and self-determination for a more sustainable and just world. At IWGIA we are proud to stand by and behind Indigenous Peoples. We thank all those who support us to do so. This annual report presents

Violence, corruption, and false promises: Conservation and the Baka in Cameroon

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 26 June 2020.

Spending time with the Baka, as we have both done over several years, is a humbling experience. This group of over 40,000 spread between the forests of Cameroon, the Republic of Congo and Gabon, practice hunting and foraging as a traditional livelihood. Through their long history in the Congo

Indigenous World 2020: Inuit Nunangat

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

The majority of the 65,030 Inuit in Canada live in 51 communities in Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland  encompassing  the Inuvialuit Settlement Region in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik in northern Quebec and Nunatsiavut in northern Labrador.

Indigenous Peoples' Human Rights Defenders in the Philippines threatened and harassed

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 11 May 2020.

IWGIA has just learned that the harassment and threats to members of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) and their families in the Philippines have escalated since they have criticised the government's interventions on COVID-19 in mid-April.

Indigenous Peoples' Human Rights Defenders in the Philippines threatened and harassed

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 11 May 2020.

IWGIA has just learned that the harassment and threats to members of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) and their families in the Philippines have escalated since they have criticised the government's interventions on COVID-19 in mid-April.

Indigenous World 2020: Kenya

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

In Kenya, the peoples who identify with the Indigenous movement are mainly pastoralists and hunter-gatherers, as well as some fisher peoples and small farming communities. Pastoralists are estimated to comprise 25% of the national population, while the largest individual community of

Indigenous World 2020: Libya

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

The Amazigh form the Indigenous population of Libya. They are estimated to number some one million people, or more than 16% of the country’s total population.

They live in various areas of Libya in the north, east and south of the country albeit without any geographical continuity. To

Indigenous World 2020: Mali

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

By the end of 2019, Mali’s population stood at more than 20 million inhabitants¹ (four times more than 59 years previously). The Tuareg (Tamazight speakers), the Moors (Arabic speakers) and, in riverine areas, the Songhay and Peuls (Fulani) are the main communities that inhabit the

Indigenous World 2020: Namibia

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

The Indigenous Peoples of Namibia include the San, the Ovatue and Ovatjimba, and potentially a number of other peoples including the Damara and Nama. Taken together, the Indigenous Peoples of Namibia represent some 8% of the total population of the country which was 2,533,244 in 2019. The San

Indigenous World 2020: Niger

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

Niger's Indigenous Peoples are the Tuareg, Fulani and Toubou, all of them transhumant pastoralists. Niger’s total population was estimated at 14,693,110 in 2009. Of the population, 8.5%, or 1,248,914, were Fulani, 8.3%, or 1,219,528, were Tuareg, and 1.5%, or 220,397, were Toubou.

Indigenous World 2020: Republic of the Congo

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

Situated in Central Africa, at the heart of the second largest forest in the world and straddling the equator, the Republic of Congo covers 341,821 km2. The Congolese population numbered 5,279,517 million in 2018 with an annual growth rate of 3.68%. It comprises two distinct groups: the Pygmies

Indigenous World 2020: Rwanda

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

The population of the Batwa in Rwanda is estimated at between 25,000 and 30,000,¹ which is less than 1% of the approximately 12.4 million people in Rwanda as of 2019 (National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda). Post-genocide law prevents the collection and dissemination of

Indigenous World 2020: South Africa

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

South Africa’s total population is estimated at around 50 million people, and Indigenous groups make up approximately 1% of this figure. Collectively, the various African Indigenous communities in South Africa are known as the Khoe-San/Khoisan, comprised of the San and the Khoekhoe/Khoi-Khoi.

Indigenous World 2020: Tunisia

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

As elsewhere in North Africa, the Indigenous population of Tunisia is formed of the Amazigh. There are no official statistics on their number in the country but Amazigh associations estimate there to be around 1 million Tamazight (the Amazigh language) speakers, accounting for some 10% of the

Indigenous World 2020: Zimbabwe

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

While the Government of Zimbabwe does not recognise any specific groups as Indigenous to the country, two peoples self-identify as such: the Tshwa (Tjwa, Tsoa, Tshwao, Cuaa) San found in western Zimbabwe, and the Doma (Vadema, Tembomvura) of Mbire District in north-central Zimbabwe. Population

Indigenous World 2020: Bangladesh

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

Bangladesh is a country of cultural and ethnic diversity, with over 54 Indigenous Peoples speaking at least 35 languages, along with the majority Bengali population. According to the 2011 census, the country’s Indigenous population numbers approximately 1,586,141¹ which represents

Indigenous World 2020: Cambodia

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

Cambodia is home to 24 different Indigenous Peoples, who speak mostly Mon-Khmer or Austronesian languages and constitute 1.4% of the national population, or around 400,000 individuals.^1,2 The Indigenous territories include the forested plateaus and highlands of North-eastern

Indigenous World 2020: India

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

In India, 705 ethnic groups are recognised as Scheduled Tribes. In central India, the Scheduled Tribes are usually referred to as Adivasis, which literally means Indigenous Peoples.¹ With an estimated population of 104 million, they comprise 8.6% of the total population.

Indigenous World 2020: Indonesia

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

Indonesia has a population of approximately 250 million. The government recognises 1,128 ethnic groups. The Ministry of Social Affairs identifies some Indigenous communities as: komunitas adat terpencil(geographically-isolated Indigenous communities). However, many more peoples

Indigenous World 2020: Japan

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

The two Indigenous Peoples of Japan, the Ainu and the Okinawans, live on the northernmost and southernmost islands of the country’s archipelago. The Ainu territory stretches from Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands (now both Russian territories) to the northern part of present-day Japan, including

Indigenous World 2020: Laos

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

With a population of just over 7 million,^1,2 Laos – Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) – is the most ethnically diverse country in mainland Southeast Asia. The ethnic Lao, comprising around half of the population, dominate the country economically and culturally. There are,

Indigenous World 2020: Malaysia

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

As of 2017, the Indigenous Peoples of Malaysia were estimated to account for around 13.8% of the 31,660,700 million national population. They are collectively known as Orang Asal. The Orang Asli are the Indigenous Peoples of Peninsular Malaysia.

Indigenous World 2020: Myanmar

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

There is no accurate information about the number of Indigenous Peoples in Myanmar, partly due to a lack of understanding of the internationally recognised concept of Indigenous Peoples. The government claims that all citizens of Myanmar are “Indigenous” (taing-yin-tha), and on that

Indigenous World 2020: Nepal

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

According to the 2011 Census, the Indigenous nationalities (Adivasi Janajati) of Nepal make up 36% of the total population of 29.8 million,¹ although Indigenous Peoples’ organisations claim a larger figure of more than 50%. The 2011 Census listed the population as belonging

Indigenous World 2020: Philippines

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

The population census conducted in the Philippines in 2010 for the first time included an ethnicity variable but no official figure for Indigenous Peoples has been released yet. The country’s Indigenous population thus continues to be estimated at between 10% and 20% of the national population

Indigenous World 2020: Thailand

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

The Indigenous Peoples of Thailand live mainly in three geographical regions of the country: indigenous fisher communities (the Chao Ley) and small populations of hunter-gatherers in the south (Mani people); small groups on the Korat plateau of the north-east and east; and the many different

Indigenous World 2020: Argentina

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

Argentina comprises 23 provinces with a total population of approximately 40 million. The most recent national census (2010) gave a total of 955,032 people who self-identify as descended from or belonging to an Indigenous people. There are 35 different officially recognised

Indigenous World 2020: Bolivia

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

According to the 2012 National Census, 41% of Bolivians over the age of 15 are of Indigenous origin although the 2017 projections from the National Statistics Institute (INE) indicate that this may now have increased to 48%.¹ Of the 36 peoples recognised in the country, most Quechua

Indigenous World 2020: Brazil

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

Brazil’s Indigenous population numbers 896,900 people, 36.2% of whom live in urban areas and 63.8% in rural. Five hundred and five (505) Indigenous Lands (TIs) have been identified. These lands represent 12.5% (106.7 million hectares) of Brazil’s territory and are inhabited by 517,400

Indigenous World 2020: Colombia

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

According to the national census conducted in 2018,¹ the Indigenous population in Colombia has grown by 36.8% and now accounts for 4.4% of the country’s total population, or 1,905,617 Indigenous individuals across all peoples.

Indigenous World 2020: Costa Rica

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

There are eight Indigenous Peoples in Costa Rica: the Huetar, Maleku, Bribri, Cabécar, Brunka, Ngäbe, Bröran and Chorotega, and they represent 2.4% of the total population. According to the 2010 National Census, a little over 100,000 people thus self-identify as Indigenous.

Indigenous World 2020: Ecuador

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

Ecuador’s Indigenous population accounts for close to 1.1 million people out of a total population of more than 17,300,000. There are 14 Indigenous nationalities living in the country, grouped into different local, regional and national organisations. Some 24.1% of the Indigenous population

Indigenous World 2020: Guyana

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

Indigenous peoples – or Amerindians as they are identified both collectively and in legislation – number some 78,500 in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, or approximately 10.5% of the total population of 746,955 (2012 census).¹ They are the fourth largest ethnic group, East

Indigenous World 2020: Nicaragua

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

There are seven Indigenous Peoples in Nicaragua: the Chorotega (221,000), Cacaopera or Matagalpa (97,500), Ocanxiu or Sutiaba (49,000) and Nahoa or Náhuatl (20,000) who live in the centre and north of the Pacific region, and the Mískitu (150,000), Sumu or Mayangna (27,000) and Rama (2,000) who

Indigenous World 2020: Paraguay

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

The population that self-identifies as belonging to one of the 19 Indigenous Peoples of Paraguay can be split into five different linguistic families: Guaraní (Aché, Avá Guaraní, Mbyá, Pai Tavytera, Guaraní Ñandeva and Western Guaraní), Maskoy (Toba Maskoy, Enlhet

Indigenous World 2020: Rapa Nui

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

The Rapa Nui people of Easter Island continued to demand recognition of their rights throughout 2019. This related largely to demanding that the Chilean state recognise and implement the International Annexation Treaty known as the “Agreement of Wills”, signed on 9 September 1888 and which

Indigenous World 2020: Suriname

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

The Indigenous Peoples of Suriname number approximately 20,344 people, or 3.8% of the total population of 541,638¹ (census 2012). The four most numerous Indigenous Peoples are the Kaliña (Carib), Lokono (Arawak), Trio (Tirio, Tareno) and Wayana. In addition, there are small

Indigenous World 2020: Venezuela

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

The recitals to Venezuela’s Constitution recognise the country as a multi-ethnic and pluricultural nation while Article 9 establishes that Indigenous languages also have official status. According to official estimates, Venezuela’s Indigenous population currently accounts for approximately 2.8%