"Indigenous women leaders alert the IACHR to the rise in violence against women defenders and their territories in the Peruvian Amazon", 05 August 2026

...Five women leaders from Indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon took part in a thematic hearing organised by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to highlight the violence against women defenders of indigenous territories caused by the spread of illegal economies such as drug trafficking, illegal mining, logging and land grabbing.

The regional thematic hearing, entitled ‘The Situation of Indigenous Women Defenders in Contexts of Illegal Economies’ (PS 196-2046), took place on 4 August 2026 in Washington, DC, during the 196th session of the IACHR....

“In our territory, extractive activities are linked to illegal activities. Both bring invaders into our lands. Criminal networks do not arrive alone; they coexist. In the Amazon, oil extraction has paved the way for invaders engaged in illegal logging, mining and drug trafficking. And with that comes human trafficking, the spread of disease and violence.”

In this regard, Elaine Shajian of CORPI SL called on the Peruvian State to declare null and void the oil, mining, gas and infrastructure concessions that overlap with indigenous territories, without having respected the right to consultation and free, prior and informed consent...

The Indigenous women leaders stated that they are on the front line in the fight against illegal economies, but that in return they have been criminalised by the state...

“Violence does not affect men and women in the same way. We are discriminated against for exercising leadership, leaving the house and speaking out”...