Situation of Indigenous Peoples in Mato Grosso do Sul

42 INDIGENIST MISSIONARY COUNCIL - CIMI tume The Amnesty International delegation also visited Mato Grosso do Sul and met with Indigenous Peoples living in the Guarani- Kaiowá village of Jaguapiru and the settlement of Apikay, near the city of Dourados. "The repeated delays in demarcating their lands is leading to violence, forced evictions and other human rights abuses," said Salil Shetty. The Secretary General urged the Brazilian national authorities to take a leading role in protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples. "It is important that the government reject the false dichotomy between development and human rights. Brazil has the legal framework and the financial resources to ensure the rights of the Indigenous Peoples. Now the government must demonstrate that it also has the political will," said Salil Shetty. Amnesty International has a long history of work in Brazil. This is the first High Level Mission of the Secretary General since Amnesty International opened its national office in Rio. "The government is entitled to feel proud of many accomplishments, particularly with regard to reducing poverty and income inequality. But it needs to address the very serious problems of violence and insecurity. Favelas and indigenous communities cannot be 'human rights` free zones," said Salil Shetty. The Secretary General was accompanied by Amnesty International's director in Brazil, Atilla Roque, Amnesty International's UK director Kate Allen, Senior Director for Law and Policy Widney Brown and Al Brazil Communication officer Thais Herdy. Amnesty International has recently started recruiting individuals as members in Brazil to join the human rights movement which has more than three million members globally.

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