Indigenous rights and legal processes highlighted in Paraguay and Chile

In Paraguay, a public defender successfully secured alternative legal outcomes for two members of the Ñe’e Katuamba indigenous community in Bella Vista Norte. The case, involving an adult woman and a 17-year-old adolescent, was resolved through the application of customary law, known as Aty guasú, in accordance with national and international legal frameworks. The individuals were ordered to follow conduct rules for a period of one year.

In Chile, legal tensions have emerged regarding the indigenous consultation process for the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Service (SBAP). The Ministry of the Environment has initiated administrative proceedings to invalidate previous agreements and the closure of the consultation process. This move has raised concerns regarding the state's treatment of indigenous participation, which critics argue is being treated as a postponable administrative formality rather than a binding right, despite previous efforts to foster dialogue between the government and representatives from various indigenous peoples.