Findings from a UNPO report have been included in the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Chile.

The UPR uses submissions from a variety of civil society members, NGO’s and other relevant stakeholders to create objective and reliable information about the human rights situation of the government in question. Each report is analysed and reviewed by the UPR working group, and then the state in question is invited to respond.

UNPO urged the Chilean government to refrain from impeding the active participation of the Mapuche community in the political arena, and asked that the Mapuche population be given the same right to freedom of movement and freedom of expression as the non-indigenous population. The UNPO also urged the Chilean government to cease illegitimate anti-terrorism raids against the Mapuche and to allow them equal access to legal forums.  Additionally, the UNPO stressed the importance of the reinstatement of communal land rights and the ability to effectively participate in business transactions occurring on their traditional lands.   For a summary of the stakeholders’ submission papers click here .

To see the UNPO submission, click here .