Coordinadora Andina de Organizaciones Indígenas

Coordinadora Andina de Organizaciones Indígenas
Name	Coordinadora Andina de Organizaciones Indígenas
Native name	Coordinadora Andina de Organizaciones Indígenas
Formation	1978
Type	Indigenous organization
Headquarters	Lima, Peru
Region served	Andes
Membership	Indigenous organizations from Andes

Coordinadora Andina de Organizaciones Indígenas is a regional coalition of indigenous organizations from the Andean countries that advocates for the rights of indigenous peoples, territorial autonomy, and cultural preservation. Founded in the late 20th century, it engages with state institutions, intergovernmental bodies, and transnational movements to influence policy on land rights, natural resources, and indigenous governance. The Coordinadora has participated in regional forums, allied with peasant unions and environmental movements, and contributed to constitutional and legislative debates across the Andes.

History

The organization's origins trace to mobilizations in the 1970s and 1980s that followed events such as the Cuban Revolution, Sandinista Revolution, and agrarian reforms in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador. Early interactions involved leaders linked to movements around figures like Hugo Chávez, Salvador Allende, and Evo Morales, and institutions such as the United Nations's indigenous rights mechanisms and the Organization of American States. The Coordinadora engaged with campaigns against transnational corporations including Chevron Corporation, Glencore, and Barrick Gold, and collaborated with organizations inspired by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation and networks around the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. During the 1990s and 2000s it contributed to processes influenced by the Madrid Summit, Summit of the Americas, and regional integration efforts like Mercosur and the Andean Community.

Organization and Membership

Membership comprises national indigenous federations and local organizations from countries including Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina. Representative affiliates reflect linguistic and cultural constituencies tied to peoples such as the Quechua, Aymara, Shuar, Kichwa, and other Andean nations. The Coordinadora has engaged with international NGOs and networks like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Greenpeace, and the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, while dialoguing with intergovernmental entities including the European Union, African Union, and Union of South American Nations. Regional partners have included unions such as Central Unitaria de Trabajadores and peasant organizations like Via Campesina.

Objectives and Activities

Primary objectives address land tenure and communal rights, defense against extractive projects by companies such as Anglo American plc and Rio Tinto Group, cultural revitalization tied to traditions of Inti Raymi and Andean cosmovisions, and the promotion of indigenous legal pluralism seen in instruments like the International Labour Organization's Convention 169 and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Activities include advocacy at venues such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, participation in conferences like the World Social Forum and the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and capacity-building with institutions like Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos and regional research centers.

Key Campaigns and Political Influence

The Coordinadora has led campaigns against mining and hydrocarbon concessions tied to cases comparable to disputes involving Newmont Corporation and PetroChina, and supported constitutional processes similar to those in Bolivia under Evo Morales and in Ecuador under Rafael Correa. It has influenced jurisprudence in national courts and supranational bodies including the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and joined coalitions with movements linked to leaders such as Lula da Silva and Michelle Bachelet. The organization has mobilized around large events including the COP climate conferences and regional summits like UNASUR and has engaged with policy debates at institutions such as the Organization of American States and World Bank.

Structure and Governance

Governance is organized through a coordinating council and periodic assemblies where national delegations deliberate, analogous to structures in federations like Confederación de Nacionalidades Indígenas del Ecuador and National Congress of American Indians. Leadership roles rotate among member organizations and engage legal advisers, communications teams, and campaign coordinators who interact with bodies such as the Inter-American Development Bank and academic partners at institutions like Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. Decision-making draws on customary authorities from communities connected to traditional leaders including ayllus and cabildos present in Bolivia and Peru.

Regional Impact and Relations

The Coordinadora has shaped policy discussions across the Andes, contributing to debates in national legislatures of Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia and participating in consultations with ministries such as foreign affairs and natural resources. Its alliances span transnational movements including the Alter Summit and environmental coalitions linked to Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth International, and it has engaged with philanthropic actors like the Ford Foundation and Open Society Foundations. The organization has maintained relations with international legal advocates and networks such as Human Rights Watch and has participated in bilateral dialogues involving countries like Spain and institutions like the European Parliament.

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques have come from state actors, extractive industry proponents, and rival social movements including sectors of peasant federations and political parties aligned with conservative or Right-wing politics in the region. Controversies have concerned positions on development projects, alleged politicization in national elections influenced by figures such as Keiko Fujimori and debates around decentralization models linked to Carlos Mesa. The organization has faced internal disputes over representation and funding transparency, prompting scrutiny from watchdogs and investigative journalists associated with outlets covering cases like Panama Papers-type revelations and media such as El Comercio (Peru), La República (Peru), and El Universo.

Category:Indigenous organizations in South America