Mother Earth · The impact of environmental crimes and human induced disaster on cultural rights of indigenous and afro-indigenous peoples

The impact of environmental crimes and human induced disaster on cultural rights of indigenous and afro-indigenous peoples

This research project examines the intersection of environmental degradation and the cultural rights of Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities in Brazil and Colombia. In these regions, environmental stressors, including deforestation, extractive mining, and large-scale infrastructure projects, often result in more than ecological loss. These activities can disrupt the cultural identity, traditional knowledge, and spiritual practices of communities whose social and economic lives are linked to their ancestral territories and the ecosystems that they live. The primary objective of the research was to examine this relationship by integrating formal legal analysis with qualitative and anthropological methodologies. Through field interviews, the research documented how environmental harm specifically impacts the cultural integrity of Afro-descendant communities. For Indigenous communities, desk-based research facilitated a similar analysis of the legal and social implications of territorial loss. This multidisciplinary approach allowed for an analysis of how international legal frameworks address the impact environmental harm on these society while grounding that analysis in the lived experiences of the affected groups. By documenting these impacts through the lens of the social sciences and humanities, the project aimed to clarify how the loss of ecosystems translates into a violation of the right to participate in cultural life. The project’s pathway to impact is centered on translating these findings into practical tools for legal and social advocacy. The research results have been consolidated into a toolkit comprised of a series of booklets designed to clarify the interlinkages between cultural rights and environmental harm. These materials provide a comprehensive overview of how international organisms have adjudicated the rights of these communities, including a guide to international case law, a glossary of legal terminology, and practical guidance on the procedural requirements for filing complaints at international levels. In the current political and strategic context, this project contributes to the reinforcement of international human rights standards and environmental protections. By providing an accessible legal guides, the project aims to bridge the gap between territorial environmental damage and the legal recognition of cultural harm. The significance of the project lies in its potential to empower community representatives and legal practitioners to utilize international mechanisms more effectively, thereby supporting the long-term preservation of both biological and cultural diversity in South America.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union