June 22, 2012
Indigenous groups from around the world, including Japan and the Philippines, gathered yesterday to deliver a resolution to UN delegates at Rio+20. Goldman Prize staff was on site as the groups marched in solidarity to the Rio Center, the official site of the UN summit.
A group of leaders representing the various indigenous groups met with a representative from the UN and the Brazilian Environment Ministry to delivery their declaration. For the full declaration, please click here.
Though the marchers were greeted by armed military police, the feeling at this year’s conference was markedly different from the first Rio conference in 1992, when indigenous people were treated like second class citizens. It was a struggle just to arrange for one indigenous leader to address the delegates and even then, they were only allotted a few minutes to speak.
This year, indigenous representatives are a regular sight, walking around talking to delegates all over the conference site- a welcome change from year’s past.
Marchers are swarmed by the press and greeted by military police.
Goldman Prize staff member Melina Selverston-Scher stands outside the official entrance to the UN conference site.
