Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with partners in south America on protections for indigenous communities.

The UK Government is committed to promoting and defending the human rights of all individuals, including indigenous peoples. I have spoken about a range of issues with partners in South America as part of our regular dialogues. On 13 October 2020, Lord Ahmad, Minister with responsibility for Human Rights and the Prime Minister's Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, undertook a virtual visit to Colombia, where he discussed a range of human rights issues, including women and girls in indigenous communities. The UK's Ambassador for Human Rights subsequently undertook a virtual visit to Colombia between 9-10 February, and discussed a broad human rights agenda with Colombian government representatives and civil society. During the visit she also discussed protection mechanisms for social leaders, including indigenous leaders in Colombia.

More widely, the UK continues to support work with indigenous communities across Brazil, including in the Amazon region. In Brazil, UK programmes on building back better after the COVID-19 pandemic include a focus on vulnerable groups, and in the Amazon region, work on issues such as solar energy, primary health, and skills development.