A new report by Survival International has accused the United Nations of being complicit in the violent eviction of Indigenous people from six World Heritage Sites in Africa and Asia. According to the report, these sites are often the stolen ancestral lands of Indigenous peoples who are being forcibly kept out through intimidation and terror. Caroline Pearce, director of Survival International, stated that UNESCO, the scientific and cultural branch of the U.N., must revoke World Heritage Status from any site where such abuses are occurring.
In 2010, UNESCO made a decision regarding the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, stating that the Maasai population and their cattle should not exceed the property’s capacity. However, reports have emerged that Maasai people have been arrested, tortured and had their cattle stolen with health services even cut off by authorities in an effort to drive them away. A Maasai leader expressed feeling sick and confused, attributing the evictions to UNESCO’s endorsement.
In 2018, UNESCO advised Congolese officials to expel illegal occupants from Kahuzi-Beiga National Park which resulted in the removal of Indigenous Batwa people. A subsequent report from Minority Rights Group accused Congolese soldiers of rape, murder and burning alive over 20 Batwa individuals. One Batwa woman recounted being assaulted by soldiers in 2021 expressing her resolve to remain in her forest despite dangers.
The report also highlighted forced evictions of Indigenous peoples from Odzala-Kokoua National Park in Congo, Kaziranga National Park in India, Chitwan National Park in Nepal and Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex in Thailand. UNESCO responded to this report by denying these allegations while emphasizing its commitment to upholding the rights of Indigenous peoples at world heritage sites
