Answer given by Vice-President Mogherini on behalf of the Commission

9.7.2018

Three Member States have so far ratified Convention 169[1]; another has launched the process to do so. The Commission promotes ratification and implementation of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions — including Convention 169 — by EU Member States and partner countries.

The Commission also works with the ILO to support ratification and implementation by third countries, with landmark results in Asia (for example Nepal), Africa (for example Central African Republic) and Latin America.

In Brazil, the Commission follows closely the situation of indigenous peoples, under pressure from agro-business, particularly in light of recent government decisions restricting the rights of indigenous peoples to their traditional lands. There are regular contacts with represenatives of indigenous peoples, civil society and the Brazilian authorities, notably in the context of the EU-Brazil High Level Dialogue on Human Rights.

Although Brazil has ratified the ILO Convention 169 and is bound by it since 2002, there have been ongoing questions about its effective implementation. The EU looks to the Brazilian State to respect the ruling of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) of March 2018, on rights of the Xucuru people.

The EU implements several projects in support of indigenous peoples in Brazil. It also seeks to promote the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, e.g. by ‘Promoting Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) in Latin America’.

This action assists Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama and Peru to adopt and implement National Action Plans, as well as regional capacity building activities and public-private partnerships supporting respect for human rights in supply chains.

• [1] http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:11300:0::NO:11300:P11300_INSTRUMENT_ID:312314