HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
39th session
10-28 September 2018
CETIM expresses its concerns about the Chilean government’s treatment of the Mapuche people. The Mapuche people are being dispossessed of their ancestral lands as a result of hydroelectric and forestry projects, which are leading to poverty and exclusion. The Chilean government criminalises Mapuche leaders and uses anti-terrorist laws to repress their demonstrations. The document calls for recognition of the Mapuche people’s right to self-determination, an end to policies of criminalisation and the promotion of peaceful negotiations. Finally, it urges the United Nations to support efforts to protect the rights of the Mapuche and to promote a fair dialogue between all the parties concerned.