Land Defender's Disappearance Highlights Alarming Rate of Violence Against Indigenous Communities
A 72-year-old Indigenous land defender, Julia Chuñil, has gone missing in Chile, sparking concerns about the safety of environmental and land defenders worldwide. According to Global Witness, 146 such defenders were killed or disappeared last year, with one-third being from Indigenous communities that make up just 6% of the global population.
The disappearance of Chuñil is a stark reminder of the deadly toll of land conflict on Indigenous people, who are disproportionately affected by disputes over their ancestral lands. "We're still in the dark" about what happened to Julia Chuñil, said her family and community members, who have been protesting outside the presidential palace in Santiago, Chile.
Chuñil was last seen on November 1st, when she went missing while searching for lost livestock with her dog Cholito. The animals returned but Chuñil did not. Her disappearance has sparked outrage among human rights groups and Indigenous communities worldwide. "The fact that Julia is still missing after weeks of protests and demands for information from the authorities is a clear indication of the lack of attention and care given to the lives of land defenders," said Maria Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the Chilean Human Rights Commission.
According to Global Witness, the number of killings and disappearances of environmental and land defenders has been rising steadily over the past decade. In 2022, 146 such defenders were killed or disappeared, with one-third being from Indigenous communities. This represents a significant increase from previous years, when the average annual toll was around 100.
The situation is particularly dire in Chile, where Indigenous communities have been fighting for their rights to ancestral lands and natural resources for decades. "The government has failed to address the root causes of land conflict, which is the lack of recognition and respect for Indigenous peoples' rights," said Dr. Juan Carlos Gutierrez, a leading expert on Indigenous rights in Chile.
As the search for Julia Chuñil continues, human rights groups are calling on the Chilean government to take immediate action to protect the lives of environmental and land defenders. "We urge the authorities to launch a thorough investigation into Julia's disappearance and to provide support to her family and community," said Maria Rodriguez.
The disappearance of Julia Chuñil is a stark reminder of the need for greater recognition and protection of Indigenous peoples' rights worldwide. As Dr. Gutierrez noted, "Indigenous communities are not just fighting for their lands; they're fighting for their lives."
This story was compiled from reports by The Guardian and The Guardian.
