Jaime Huenchullan is one of many of the Mapuche community who has been a political prisoner. During the event, Mr. Huenchullan will talk about his personal life and experiences, his arrest and life in prison, Mapuche issues, and about the ways in which he is representing the Mapuche community in Chile.

The Mapuche in Chile have been oppressed for decades. There is no constitutional recognition of the Mapuche people in Chile. There have been instances of police brutality and uses of disproportionate force against Mapuche land occupations. Besides, elements of Mapuche culture are being exploited and commercialized for economic gain. The Mapuche continue to suffer from racism, repression and social exclusion, but they keep their struggle alive. The Mapuche people have lost control of their territory to Argentina and Chile. The lands of indigenous Mapuche people have been expropriated by companies for decades for use as commercial tree farming.

Jaime Huenchullan is active in promoting the rights of the Mapuche and fighting against the struggle of the community. Therefore, he participated in several national and international meetings and forums, including a meeting at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in 2012. This month, Mr. Huenchullan will visit several European countries for the promotion of his community.

The event offers participants the chance to talk with a Mapuche representative who has been a political prisoner himself.

For the results of the conference, please click here.

For more information about the event, and for registration for the event, please contact Geeske Sibrijns at [email protected]