GENEVA / BRASÍLIA - United Nations human rights experts have concluded a 10-day mission to Brazil from 1 to 10 June 2026 to gather information and engaged in dialogue that will inform technical advice aimed at strengthening the protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact following a mission to Brazil from 1 to 10 June 2026.
The United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) stressed that effective protection of these Peoples depends on the full recognition, demarcation, legal security and protection of their lands, territories and resources, including preventive measures against invasions, illegal activities, violence and environmental harm, in line with international human rights standards, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Full respect for their decision to remain in isolation, including the principle of no contact, must guide all actions.
The Government of Brazil welcomed the visit, which was undertaken at the request of the International Working Group for the Protection of Indigenous Peoples in Isolation and Initial Contact (GTI-PIACI), an alliance of 21 Indigenous and indigenist organizations from South America.
During the mission, the EMRIP delegation, comprising Anexa B. Alfred Cunningham, chair and head of mission, and Ojot Miru Ojulu, vice-chair, visited the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau Indigenous Territory, a 1.8-million-hectare protected reserve in the State of Rondônia. The mission included visits to the Bananeiras Ethno-Environmental Protection Base (FUNAI), the Trincheiras village of the Amondawa people, and the Jamari village of the Jupaú people, as well as meetings with officials in Brasília, the federal capital.
Over the ten days, the experts engaged with federal and state authorities, Indigenous Peoples' organizations, traditional leadership structures, civil society, national human rights institutions and other stakeholders. They also held direct exchanges with Indigenous representatives working to protect territories where Peoples in isolation and initial contact are present. The delegation expressed its appreciation to all interlocutors for their dialogue and the sharing of expertise.
The experts underscored that all policies and measures must be developed and implemented in partnership with Indigenous Peoples and their representative institutions, respecting their rights to self-determination, free, prior and informed consent, and culturally appropriate approaches.
In addition, EMRIP highlighted the critical role of judicial institutions in protecting Indigenous Peoples in isolation and initial contact from forced contact linked to economic activities such as mining, agribusiness, tourism and infrastructure projects, as well as other third-party incursions that may lead to displacement, contamination or other harm.
The Expert Mechanism will issue a technical advisory note in the coming months. Both the State and the requesting organizations will also be invited to share their experiences of country engagement at EMRIP's 19th annual session, to be held in Geneva from 13 to 17 July 2027.
