The Diplomat
The XVI General Assembly of the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean (FILAC) began yesterday in Madrid at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the presentation of the Popol Vuh Order recognition to various institutions and individuals for their role in the struggle for the rights of indigenous peoples, including the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
“In the joint path we have traveled during these 30 years, Spanish Cooperation has sought to be a loyal partner based on respect for the autonomy of indigenous peoples and their leadership in decision-making on issues that affect them,” said the president of AECID and Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Pilar Cancela, during the collection of the recognition. “Indigenous peoples are the ones who have to build their destiny and it is up to the rest of us to reinforce and accompany them on that path,” she added.
Two other institutions, the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC, the UN agency responsible for promoting economic and social development in the region), also received recognition from the Popol Vuh Order (named after the sacred book of the Maya, the Popol Vuh), as did several FILAC officials. In addition, during the opening session, FILAC and AECID presented the publication 30 years of FILAC-AECID Cooperation, which reflects the path taken jointly by the two institutions over the past 30 years.
The XVI General Assembly of the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean is attended by indigenous and state delegates from 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries and government representatives from Spain, Portugal and Belgium, who are meeting this year in Madrid to evaluate the progress of the Ibero-American Plan of Action for the implementation and rights of Indigenous Peoples and also the Strategic Plan Change with Wisdom. The Assembly will conclude this noon with a press conference by the president of FILAC and vice-chancellor of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Freddy Mamani, and the director of AECID, Antón Leis, to explain the conclusions of the meeting.
