Terra

Defining communities in Colombia: the Afro-descendant communities of Curvaradó and Jiguamiandó and communal land rights

Published in Tuesday April 9th, 2013 In Social movement news

Once seen as antipathetic to the individual rights focus of international human rights law, “third generation” and collective rights have – despite lingering controversy – been widely accepted as a fundamental element of the indivisible human rights framework. Driven in particular by the demands of indigenous peoples, national and international law has recognised and protected rights to communal land titles, rights to language, religious practices, specialised education and protection of cultural heritage, and many other rights which are associated with the existence of distinct socio-cultural groups within the boundaries of the wider state.

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Vietnamese Farmers Sentenced to Prison for Resisting Eviction From Their Land

Published in Monday April 8th, 2013 In In the media

A court sentenced a family of four Vietnamese fish farmers to prison terms of two to five years on Friday after finding them guilty of attempted murder for fighting back against a state eviction squad with homemade guns and land mines last year.

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The repression increases against people affected by dams in the Amazon

Published in Thursday April 4th, 2013 In Social movement news

The contradictions caused by the construction of large dam in the Amazon region have been sharpening recently. The Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB) and indigenous and riverside organisations are denouncing the human rights violations caused by these works. And the response from private companies and the government is increasing repression.

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Land evictions on despite Museveni directive in Uganda

Published in Monday March 25th, 2013 In In the media

Less than a month since President Yoweri Museveni issued a stern warning against illegal land evictions, the vice seems to be escalating, especially in the central region. This week, a businessman, Robert Mulindwa, threatened to evict over 100 residents of Nangabo in Wakiso district. According to residents, Mulindwa hired Price Company, a private firm, to survey the land without their consent.

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The World Bank must stop underwriting human rights abuses in Ethiopia

Published in Saturday March 23rd, 2013 In Social movement news

A leaked World Bank report calls for an investigation into allegations that a multi-billion dollar aid program in Ethiopia is underwriting the forced relocation of hundreds of thousands of ethnic minorities to free up fertile land to lease to investors.

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Middle East/North Africa Land Forum IV

Published in Thursday March 21st, 2013 In Mobilisation and agenda

The Habitat International Coalition’s Housing and Land Rights Network announces the convening of the fourth Land Forum in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region. Every edition of the Land Forum series brings together activists, scholars, NGOs and community leaders to explore cases, present land struggles and exchange experiences that set the research and advocacy agenda for the MENA region. This year’s Land Forum will take place alongside the events of the World Social Forum, in Tunis, Tunisia, during the week of 24 March 2013.

Collection and mapping of cases of extractive industries in or near indigenous territories

Published in Thursday March 21st, 2013 In News on the Rapporteurs

The Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples requests information about extractive and energy industry projects in or near indigenous territories. Indigenous peoples, NGOs that work with them, Governments, companies, and other interested parties are invited to provide information about cases of extractive industries (mining, petroleum, or gas projects) and energy production (such as hydroelectric projects) in or near indigenous territories.

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The housing situation of Roma communities

Published in Wednesday March 20th, 2013

Roma are more likely to live in poverty than non-Roma citizens. They have a higher risk of unemployment, stay in school for fewer years, and many live without access to drinking water, sanitation and electricity. Roma are more likely to suffer from chronic illness and have less access to health services. UNDP works with national partners to promote inclusion of Roma into economic, social, political and community life and in this publication they analyze the housing situation in Roma communities and the discrepancies regarding their non-Roma neighbors.

Land Commission Continues Consultations in Liberia

Published in Tuesday March 19th, 2013 In In the media

The Land Commission is expected to hold a consultative meeting with the media this Wednesday in Monrovia. The one-day meeting, aimed at gathering views and opinions of cross-session of the Liberian population on key issues and recommendations advanced in the draft Land Rights Policy, is in continuation of what the Commission started last year.

Myanmar’s ‘worrying’ transition

Published in Monday March 18th, 2013 In Opinion

Myanmar’s icon of democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, has let down people protesting for land rights, saying she wasn’t in politics for popularity. Scott Leckie, director of the Switzerland-based NGO Displacement Solutions, has worked on Myanmar’s human rights issues for more than 25 years and tells DW about the country’s concerning developments.

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