Victoria Tauli-Corpuz
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz is the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a position she has held since 2014. An indigenous leader hailing from the Kankanaey Igorot community in the Philippines’ Cordillera region, she has been fighting for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and rural women since the 1970s, when she helped build an indigenous movement that successfully stopped major dam and logging projects in the Cordillera region.
Since then, Tauli-Corpuz has founded and managed several civil society organizations dedicated to the advancement of indigenous and women’s rights, including the Tebtebba Foundation, of which she serves as founder and executive director. In addition to her duties as UN Special Rapporteur, Tauli-Corpuz also serves as an expert for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, an adviser for the Third World Network, and a member of the United Nations Development Programme Civil Society Organizations Advisory Committee.
In March 2018, Tauli-Corpuz was placed on a list of “terrorists” by the Philippine government, alongside hundreds of other indigenous and human rights defenders, as retaliation for speaking up against the Duterte administration’s human rights violations. She remains in exile from her native Philippines, and continues to fight for Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and women around the world.
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz is the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a position she has held since 2014. An indigenous leader hailing from the Kankanaey Igorot community in the Philippines’ Cordillera region, she has been fighting for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and rural women since the 1970s, when she helped build an indigenous movement that successfully stopped major dam and logging projects in the Cordillera region.
Since then, Tauli-Corpuz has founded and managed several civil society organizations dedicated to the advancement of indigenous and women’s rights, including the Tebtebba Foundation, of which she serves as founder and executive director. In addition to her duties as UN Special Rapporteur, Tauli-Corpuz also serves as an expert for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, an adviser for the Third World Network, and a member of the United Nations Development Programme Civil Society Organizations Advisory Committee.
In March 2018, Tauli-Corpuz was placed on a list of “terrorists” by the Philippine government, alongside hundreds of other indigenous and human rights defenders, as retaliation for speaking up against the Duterte administration’s human rights violations. She remains in exile from her native Philippines, and continues to fight for Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and women around the world.
The Problem of Overlap: The Panamanian government stalls on indigenous land titling on protected areas
by Christine Halvorson
Rainforest Foundation US
The Problem of Overlap: The Panamanian government stalls on indigenous land titling on protected areas
by Christine Halvorson
Rainforest Foundation US
The Problem of Overlap: The Panamanian government stalls on indigenous land titling on protected areas
by Christine Halvorson
Rainforest Foundation US
The Problem of Overlap: The Panamanian government stalls on indigenous land titling on protected areas
by Christine Halvorson
Rainforest Foundation US
The Problem of Overlap: The Panamanian government stalls on indigenous land titling on protected areas
by Christine Halvorson
Rainforest Foundation US
Organization: Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Montaña
Community: Tlapa de Comonfort
Spokesperson Name: Abel Barrera
Organization: ONG Derechos Humanos y Medio Ambiente
Spokesperson Name: : Jose Bayardo Chata Pacoricona (10:50-18:16)
The stories of #THEYSHOULDHAVEKNOWNBETTER need to be heard and told
in every corner of the world.
Graphics and Videos
Graphics and short video clips featuring our speakers are available in both English and Spanish. Please feel free to share these widely through your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and any other social media accounts. Click on the thumbnails below to view content.
Please help us spread the word by posting any of the following content to your social media accounts.
It's time to call the worldwide criminalization of Indigenous Peoples what it is: A global crisis.
The UN's leading voice on indigenous rights is raising the alarm in a new report: TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com
Threats. Violence. Criminalization. Murder.
The UN's leading voice on indigenous rights says there is a devastating pattern of persecution and abuse facing Indigenous Peoples in every corner of the world. It’s time to end impunity for the perpetrators.
TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com
More than 2/3 of the 312 human rights defenders murdered in 2017 were defending their lands, the environment, or indigenous rights. There must be no more impunity for those who commit crimes against human rights activists. TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com/blog-front-line-defenders
Theme: General
It's time to call the worldwide criminalization of Indigenous Peoples what it is: A global crisis.
The UN's leading voice on indigenous rights, @UNSR_VickyTauli, is raising the alarm.
#TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com
Threats. Violence. Criminalization. Murder.
The UN's leading voice on indigenous rights says there is a devastating pattern of persecution and abuse facing Indigenous Peoples in every corner of the world. It’s time to end impunity for the perpetrators.
#TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com
"They want to exterminate us, the Indigenous Peoples." –Jorge Nahuel of #Argentina
Around the world, indigenous communities face violence and legal harassment for defending their land rights.
#TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com
"There is an escalating effort to silence the voices of Indigenous Peoples who dare to defend their communities' lands—and it is being carried out by the collusion between governments and corporations."
–@UNSR_VickyTauli #TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com
For too long, Indigenous Peoples have been marginalized by the world's justice systems. Those who commit violence against them walk free, while court systems are weaponized to punish indigenous land rights defenders.
#TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com
Theme: Human Rights Defenders
67% of the 312 human rights defenders murdered in 2017 were defending their lands, the environment, or indigenous rights.
There must be no more impunity for those who commit crimes against human rights activists.
#TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com/blog-front-line-defenders
"Corrupt elites risk not only destroying the lives and culture of Indigenous Peoples, but also destroying the environment on which our collective future survival depends."
–Andrew Anderson, Executive Director @FrontLineHRD
#TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com/blog-front-line-defenders
About 80% of the murders of human rights defenders in 2017 took place in just 4 countries.
Brazil.
Colombia.
Mexico.
The Philippines.
There must be no more impunity for those who commit crimes against human rights activists.
#TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com
Country: Argentina
"They want to exterminate us, the Indigenous Peoples."
Jorge Nahuel, indigenous rights activist of la Confederación Mapuche de Neuquén, calls for an end to impunity for those who commit violence against Indigenous Peoples.
#TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com/argentina
Country: Colombia
Colombia is suffering from an increase in threats against social leaders, including those from indigenous communities.
#TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com/colombia
"The criminalization of Indigenous Peoples is logically designed to follow the policy of neoliberal development," says Aida Marina Vivas of @ONIC_Colombia. "This can be seen not only in #Colombia, but across the world." #TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com/colombia
Country: Guatemala
In #Guatemala, crimes against Indigenous Peoples are not considered attacks, explains K'iche' land defender Lolita Chávez: "We are expected to reach an agreement with the perpetrators." It's time to end the impunity.
#TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com/Guatemala
Country: Indonesia
When the Seko Indigenous Peoples resisted a hydropower plant in Indonesia, 14 were imprisoned, says @RumahAMAN. Governments must respect—not criminalize—indigenous rights defenders.
#TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com/indonesia
Country: Liberia
In Liberia, Alfred Brownell defended community members from false criminal charges. "It was a lawyer's nightmare," he says. "They are waging wars against Indigenous Peoples and individuals who are protecting the planet."
#TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com/a-lawyers-nightmare
Country: Lao PDR
"In Laos, a group of villagers seeking fair compensation for the loss of their land has allegedly been detained for over a year. Four have died in custody under suspicious circumstances." –@asgrindroz
#TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com
Country: Peru
In #Peru, criminalization occurs not only through criminal law but also through other state policies: “Before, preliminary arrests could only be made for 24 hours; now people can be detained for up to 15 days.” #TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com/peru
"Businesses can find ways to protect their own interests. But, what mechanisms do we have as Indigenous Peoples when our rights have been affected?" –José Bayardo Chata Pacoricona, Peru#TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com/peru
Country: Philippines
As the UN's top indigenous rights defender, she heard hundreds of cases of Indigenous Peoples being criminalized and attacked by corrupt governments.
Then her own government labelled her a "terrorist."
#TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter.com
We must put an end to the disturbing practice of giving impunity to those who commit crimes against Indigenous Peoples. #TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter
The systematic violation of Indigenous Peoples' rights isn't just a pattern. It's a global crisis. Join us in the call to hold perpetrators accountable. #TheyShouldHaveKnownBetter
