More than 300 leaders from 12 countries and representatives of Indigenous Peoples have gathered in Panama City to attend the Fifth Continental Summit of Indigenous Peoples and Nationalities of Abya Yala “Defending the Future of our Nations,” which will be held on April 9 and 10. This meeting has been organized in light of the Seventh Summit of the Americas.

During the Summit, Indigenous Peoples from different nations of the hemisphere will seek to agree upon common positions around key issues affecting their territories, their ancient culture, and natural resources. They will also demand the presidents and heads of state attending the Summit of the Americas to respect their right to prior, free and informed consultation, before undertaking any project in indigenous territories. Among their specific demands, they will ask for the creation of a special mechanism within the Organization of American States (OAS) aiming to ensure respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples of the Americas.

The results of the Summit of Abya Yala will be formally presented to the heads of state and presidents participating in the Summit of the Americas, so that the states support and ensure respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The Summit of Abya Yala is organized by the Coordinator of Indigenous Peoples of Panama (COONAPIP), and supported by several major indigenous organizations from Latin America, such as the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA), the Association of Development of the Peruvian Rainforest (AIDESEP), the Central American Indigenous Council (CICA), and the Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests (AMPB).

For more information on the agenda see below:

http://coonapip.com/noticias/programa-oficial-de-la-v-cumbre-de-abya-yala/