Source: European Parliament
The rights of indigenous peoples are an integral part of the EU external human rights policy, as per the Council Conclusions on Indigenous Peoples of May 2017[1].
The EU is committed to supporting indigenous peoples and their ancestral authorities as part of its human rights and peacebuilding strategy in Colombia, including in its dialogues with national authorities and through concrete action.
Several EU-financed projects — including those within the framework of the #DefendamosLaVida campaign — are focused on the protection and empowerment of human rights defenders and social leaders in Colombia.
Special attention is always placed on indigenous community territories, working closely with their organisations to strengthen their collective protection mechanisms.
The EU Delegation in Colombia is currently implementing human rights and civil society projects for a total budget of EUR 9 239 032.
The EU has made numerous public declarations[2] supporting the work of indigenous communities and demanding measures to protect them.
These declarations also increase public awareness and contribute to reducing security risks. During the 15th EU-Colombia Human Rights Dialogue, the EU stressed the importance of recognising and respecting indigenous peoples’ self-governance and territorial autonomy as a key contribution to peacebuilding.