Native Peruvians See Loopholes in Prior Consultation Law - IPS ipsnews.net

9.2.12

Native Peruvians See Loopholes in Prior Consultation Law - IPS ipsnews.net: LIMA, Feb 8, 2012 (IPS) - Indigenous communities in Peru have a long list of comments and objections to the proposed regulations for the law governing prior consultation on initiatives affecting their territories.

This criticism was voiced in a series of workshops conducted across the country ahead of the national meeting on the issue scheduled for Feb. 13-15.

"Before the regulations can be adopted, the law needs to be amended to resolve several gaps, such as the absence of the minimum requirements for prior consultation rights established by international instruments," Alberto Pizango, head of the Inter- Ethnical Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest (AIDESEP), said.

Pizango - who became widely known during his presidential bid in 2011 - met in Lima on Feb. 2 and 3 with some 20 indigenous leaders from the Amazon region to agree on a joint position on the draft regulations, which will be delivered to the Ollanta Humala administration at the national event later this month.