PARAGUAY: INDIGENOUS LAND DEFENDER ATTACKED

[Judi Lynn]

29 October 2020, Index number: AMR 45/3277/2020

Qom indigenous leader Bernarda Pesoa was physically assaulted on her community lands in Benjamín Aceval municipality, Paraguay, on 27 October by a group of approximately 9 women and men after she opposed works for a eucalyptus plantation in the community´s territory. The communities have not been properly consulted by the project developers to ensure their free, prior and informed consent. State authorities must urgently investigate the attack against Bernarda and provide her with protection.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr45/3277/2020/en/

(Short article, no more at link.)

[Judi Lynn]

1. Fatal attack on an indigenous child, in July, 2020:

Paraguay: indigenous girl's murder fires public outrage at child sexual abuse
This article is more than 3 months old
The conservative South American country has high levels of sexual violence against minors and a shocking child pregnancy rate

Fri 17 Jul 2020 06.00 EDT

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Human rights activists in Paraguay have led a wave of fierce public indignation after a series of alarming cases in which sexual violence towards young girls has culminated in murder and child pregnancy.

The highly conservative South American country has long struggled with high levels of sexual violence towards children.

On 29 June, a 12-year-old Guaraní indigenous girl was found murdered with signs of sexual abuse in the Arroyo Corá indigenous community in the Itapúa administrative department. A 26-year-old man was arrested.

Bernarda Pessoa, a leader of the Qom indigenous people and activist of the Organisation of Rural and Indigenous Women (Conamuri), said that nowhere near enough was being done to protect children, especially indigenous children.

Earlier this year, several other cases of extreme sexual violence towards indigenous girls – including another murder in Paraguay’s capital, Asunción – prompted a string of large protests demanding justice.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jul/17/paraguay-child-sexual-abuse-violence-pregnancy