3rd DEFENSE
REPORT TO THE UN COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
1. Indigenous Front Cacique Waikae'puru is an organization legally established since 2008,
has the active participation of 44 indigenous peoples, organizations, community councils
and indigenous social movements and territorial guides of Venezuela. By the massive
participation of the entire indigenous component, there has been remarkable progress in
relation to the recognition of subjective and native rights of indigenous peoples and
respect for their physical and moral integrity, highlighting the legislative regulation and
social inclusion.
2. This is an indigenous social organization dedicated to promote mechanisms for inspiring
the participation of indigenous communities in the plans, programs and projects
implemented by the National Government, strengthening and promoting cultural and
traditional values of the peoples and integral development of indigenous communities.
Contributes and participates in the transformation of the political platform from the
ground, in the defense of the territorial integrity of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,
developing a management model based on lifelong learning, governed by its own
principles of socialism framed in national legislation and in national and international
agreements on indigenous issues.
3. The fundamental vision of the Indigenous Front Cacique Waikae'purú, is to ensure and
guarantee the political, social, economic, protagonist, multicultural and multilingual
indigenous peoples' participation and its various organizations. Thus defend the processes
of change that brings the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela, based on collective
principles and values of solidarity, cooperation, complementarity, reciprocity, equity and
sustainability of indigenous peoples and indigenous communities.
4. Advances of our organization in Venezuela are well known, in promoting equal rights
and respect for those, these are unquestionable and place us in a prime position in the
defense of the diverse interests and needs resolution submitted by indigenous peoples.
Also include the important and growing participation of these peoples in the social,
economic and political life of the country in the design and implementation of public
policies on indigenous rights with the support provided by the Indigenous Front.
5. The discrimination has been the cause of many abuses of our indigenous and Afrodescendants peoples, which led us to the exclusion of Venezuelan society, even more of
American society. In particular, racial discrimination is the root of injustice, intolerance,
humiliation, xenophobia, among other scourges of our people, which the Venezuelan
State is determined to eradicate, vindicating indigenous and Afro-Venezuelans peoples.
Since the triumph of the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela and the constituent process in
1999, our social project has struggled against all forms of discrimination. In this area, as in
others, indigenous peoples and the Bolivarian government act consistently with the
treaties, missions, conventions and other international instruments where Indigenous
Peoples and Venezuela are part of. Compliance with this principle is guaranteed in all legal
proceedings as appropriate.
The Executive Secretary of our movement, the 12 national spokesmen, the 15 State
spokesmen and two thousand eight hundred ninety (2,890) Regional spokespersons
conduct training workshops across the country, focusing on issues of values such as
equality, land demarcation. Social-political issues, lectures, conferences, community
debates, among others; this year we have achieved greater participation of community
leaders from different peoples and mostly young people.
6. The FICW currently works together with the competent authorities, based on social
programs aimed at the eradication of poverty, where the Executive accelerate housing
construction, nutrition, social welfare, education and health programs, to raise the
standard of life and indigenous.
As for the attention of indigenous adults and older adults, it is contemplated in the
Organic Law of Indigenous Peoples and Communities, in Title V of the Social Rights, the
pension enjoyment from a vision of life expectancy and particularities of each town,
likewise, the right to form their family, comprehensive protection of indigenous, especially
children and adolescents; the rights of indigenous women for their integral development,
and this social organization ensures full compliance with these rights.
Housing construction in indigenous communities has been a priority for the State, which
has established the construction of homes for those indigenous communities that live in
extreme poverty and are difficult to access, ensuring a better life for these communities,
respecting their wishes, uses and customs in coordination and cooperation with the
Indigenous Front.
7. Indigenous Front Waikae'puru monitors that indigenous peoples and communities have
the right to health, issued by the Venezuelan State, incorporating into the comprehensive
care the right to use their traditional medicine and ancient healing practices for
protection, promotion, prevention and the restoration of the health of the indigenous
population. Also, its participation in the programs of the National Health and Social
Security and comprehensive care in geographic, economic, social and cultural conditions
that require according to the uses and customs.
According to the provisions of LOPCI, in the Latin American School of Medicine, Dr.
Salvador Allende (ELAM), have been incorporated indigenous youth for education and
training, in order to address and prevent diseases in each of its towns and Indigenous
communities. Similarly, under the Cuba-Venezuela Agreement, indigenous professionals
have participated in post-degree studies in Havana.
Indigenous peoples and communities have health programs such as Care and Counseling
Services to the Indigenous (SAOI); Yanomami Health Plan, Apure Health Plan and Nigale
Cacique Project; they also count on Barrio Adentro Program and Mission Miracle.
8. All these achievements have only been given thanks to the arrival of the Revolution led
by our leader and President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Rafael Chávez
Frías, with its policies of inclusion, because with the revolutionary process there have
been dramatic changes in housing, health, education, culture, sports, food, and respect for
native human rights.