Brazil: Indigenous Peoples

(asked on 30th June 2021) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the Brazilian Government on recent protests in Brasilia by representatives of indigenous peoples in the Amazon region of that country.


Answered by
Wendy Morton Portrait
Wendy Morton
This question was answered on 5th July 2021

The UK is committed to promoting and defending the human rights of all individuals, and we regularly discuss issues affecting indigenous people with Brazilian authorities. The UK continues to support work with indigenous communities across Brazil, including in the Amazon region. UK programmes on building back better after the COVID-19 pandemic include a focus on vulnerable groups, including in the Amazon region, and work on issues such as solar energy, primary healthcare, and skills development. The UK has also supported local and indigenous people in the Amazon through our International Climate Finance Programmes, with nearly £120 million invested since 2012.

The Foreign Secretary, and the Secretary of State for International Trade have regular discussions with their Brazilian counterparts on a range of issues. They have raised the crucial importance of combatting illegal deforestation at the UK-Brazil Strategic Dialogue in October 2020, and at the Joint Economic and Trade Committee in November 2020. More recently, the Foreign Secretary discussed climate and environment matters with the Brazilian Foreign Minister in June 2021. The UK stands ready to support Brazil's efforts to counter increasing deforestation rates, and we welcome the recent reduction of approximately 25% in areas under deforestation alerts.

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