The Guatemalan indigenous leader and activist, Rigoberta Menchú, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1992, today addressed the delegations present in Asunción at the 19th Meeting of Authorities on Indigenous Peoples of Mercosur (RAPIM) with a rousing speech in support of indigenous peoples all over the world.
After recalling the years of effort involved in changing the definitions of the United Nations Convention where recognition was finally granted to indigenous peoples to exercise their full rights and freedoms, Ms Menchú laid out the case for continuing to expand the dialogue and understanding between different cultures around the world.
“Today I remember the tireless struggle of trying to change the meaning of the convention and the immense hope we had of being recognised as peoples. We are indigenous peoples. We are products of a lineage, all of humanity, that is why surnames are important. It excites me because this is how we remind them of our ancestors, it is an evolution of their eternal presence, because by mentioning them they protect us, that is a philosophy of life for all peoples in general,” she said.
“Enlightened land of Paraguay”
In a specific reference to the local audience, she noted that she valued all the ancestors of the Guaraní, from this “enlightened land of Paraguay”, for their resistance, resilience, and tenacity in defending their culture, tradition, ideas, philosophy and their entire system.
Throughout her speech, she urged leaders to forge harmonious leadership to initiate a positive agenda for the survival of all peoples, not only as indigenous people, Guarani or Mayans, but as humanity.
“We have to promote dialogue, the meeting to reach consensus. It is a time of great opportunities to innovate policies and stop injustices, humanising actions that is a global demand,” she stated.
The meeting was held with representatives of government institutions and delegations from the member countries of Mercosur, as well as leaders of the indigenous peoples Paraguay, in the auditorium of the CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, formerly Corporación Andina de Fomento).
The dialogue was opened by the Southern Regional Manager of the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), Jorge Srur, who expressed the international organisation’s commitment to indigenous communities, in culture, sports, and the environment, among others.
“We are working for indigenous communities to bring water to the Chaco… and to care for Mother Earth. We see this event as a moment of joy and hope”, siad Srur. “Indigenous communities teach us the lessons of caring for natural resources, land and water.”
