Vicky Tauli-Corpuz, U.N. special rapporteur Indigenous rights, on BBC Newsday ahead of GLF Bonn

• BBC Newsday interview starts at 34 minutes, 56 seconds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w172wpk89v9vbzw

Trumped-up charges, imprisonment, harassment and intimidation are often the result when Indigenous people speak out against government-supported private companies investing in large-scale projects on their traditional lands, says Vicky Tauli-Corpuz, U.N. special rapporteur on Indigenous rights. Such projects are often launched without discussion and without the free, prior and informed consent of customary landholders. Tauli-Corpuz spoke to BBC Newsday about how land rights and climate change are interconnected ahead of the Global Landscapes Forum conferenceon 22-23 June.

In April, Tauli-Corpuz announced a Global Campaign Against the Criminalization and Impunity of Indigenous Peoples, which was inspired by research and interviews she conducted during the preparation of her 2018 report on attacks and criminalization of Indigenous Peoples. 

“It’s been observed and concluded that the issue of criminalization of Indigenous peoples is a global crisis,” Tauli-Corpuz said, referring to the report, as she announced the initiative at the U.N. 18th Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous issues.

The theme of GLF Bonn 2019 is on rights and climate change, including Indigenous rights, women’s rights, youth and local communities. More than 1,500 leaders from 100 countries will attend the conference, including Indigenous peoples, ministers, scientists, finance heads, global media, youth and more. Thousands more will follow online.

Listen to the BBC interview, which starts at 34 mins, 56 seconds: