5 March 2021
The Socio-environmental Institute (ISA), working alongside UK charity CAFOD, has won the Human Rights Award of the European Union 2020 for their work with indigenous communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The award, launched by the Delegation of the European Union in Brazil, hopes “to recognise, encourage and give visibility to an emblematic ongoing project carried out by a Brazilian Civil Society Organization.”
ISA, which has worked for many years alongside indigenous grassroots organisations in the Brazilian Amazon, was presented the award for their special programmes to help indigenous communities and traditional rural communities to protect themselves against coronavirus.
Cecilia Iorio, the Brazil representative for charity CAFOD, said: “We would like to say a massive congratulations to ISA for their amazing work over the past year.
“Despite incredibly challenging circumstances, they have grown their programmes to encompass an emergency response and support indigenous and rural communities with life-saving information and resources.”
During the pandemic, ISA’s projects included developing vital COVID-19 communications in native languages to dispel misinformation. Additionally, they developed remote medical care, providing life-saving support ranging from generators to personal protective equipment, as well as oxygen cylinders and rapid COVID-19 tests.
ISA’s emergency response has so far supported almost 70,000 people across five territories, covering more than 50 million hectares of forest - an area equivalent to Spain.
Currently, the situation for rural and indigenous communities in the Brazilian Amazon is increasingly treacherous.
In addition to increasing coronavirus infections – as of 2 March 2021, there were 49,662 confirmed cases within Indigenous communities and 978 deaths. And the spread of the new variant, the Federal Government’s dismantling of environmental legislation which protected indigenous lands and conservation areas has led to increased illegal logging and mining and violence in the region.
This means that the work of ISA – and other grassroots organisations – is more vital than ever.
CAFOD has been supporting indigenous organisations in Brazil for over 30 years, empowering indigenous communities to demand their rights to land demarcation, bilingual education, and health, as enshrined in Brazil’s constitution.
Notes to Editors:
For further information and interviews with spokespeople, please contact: Elouise Hobbs, ehobbs@cafod.org.uk, Mobile: +44 (0)7954 077426, Or, CAFOD’s 24-hour media hotline on +44 (0)7919 301 429
CAFOD has been supporting indigenous organisations in Brazil for over 30 years, empowering indigenous communities to demand their rights to land demarcation, bilingual education, and health, as enshrined in Brazil’s constitution.
CAFOD is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and part of Caritas International. We reach out to people living in poverty with practical help, whatever their religion or culture. Help us build a world where no one is beyond reach of the love and care they need.
ENDS//