UN expert: Ecuador’s indigenous people lack adequate access to social services

Despite recent economic growth in Ecuador, the country’s indigenous people remain impoverished and lack adequate access to even basic social services, a United Nations human rights expert said today, warning that the absence of key legislation covering their rights is already causing violent disputes.

Just back from a 10-day visit to Ecuador, during which he met a wide cross-section of society, including the President and other officials, donors, UN representatives and indigenous peoples and their leaders, Rodolfo Stavenhagen, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, also drew attention to the increasing emigration from indigenous communities due to the lack of employment.

“The information obtained indicates that the indigenous peoples lack adequate access to basic social services such as education and health,” he said, voicing particular concern about maternal and infant mortality rates and the absence of health services, especially in rural areas.

“The lack of regulations regarding indigenous justice is giving rise to conflictive situations related to jurisdictional disputes and to possible violations of the right to life and physical integrity,” he said, pointing out that these problems are being aggravated by the lack of an adequate public defence system.”

The Special Rapporteur visited various communities including Sarayaku, which is involved in a conflict related to oil exploration and exploitation and he called attention to how some economic activity is adversely affecting indigenous peoples.

“Of particular concern are the progressive deterioration of indigenous habitat and the impact of extractive activities (hydro-carbon, mining and logging) on the environment and the rights of indigenous peoples,” he noted, adding he had received “serious claims” regarding this situation in the Amazonian region as well as other areas of Ecuador.

“Special attention should be paid to the growing problems of the people confronting illegal logging and other activities in their territories, who have not been contacted,” he said.

Special Rapporteurs are unpaid experts serving in an independent personal capacity who received their mandate from the now defunct UN Commission on Human Rights and will now report to the newly established and enhanced Human Rights Council.