Researchers connected to the International Institute for Religious Freedom (IIRF) and its partner organization Observatory of Religious Freedom in Latin America (OLIRE) published the report “Religious Freedom for Indigenous Communities in Latin America” for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
This comprehensive report features three crosscutting research areas that illuminate the religious freedom challenges facing indigenous communities in Latin America. First, the report analyzes the international mechanisms intended to protect indigenous peoples’ religious freedom, such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It identifies Latin American states that have adopted these declarations and provides an assessment of their adherence to their obligations. Second, it documents domestic legal measures related to the protection of indigenous peoples’ right to manifest their religion, as well as an assessment of how states are upholding these rights. Lastly, the report provides detailed information about recent religious freedom violations against indigenous communities and individuals, including discrimination in public institutions, prevention of rituals, verbal abuse, and violent attacks.
We invite you to read the full report here.