A/78/162
42. In Latin America, healing and traditional ceremonies are turned into folklore for
tourists, transgressing their true meaning and their cultural and spiritual values. 68 For
example, the recent increase in recreational use of Indigenous medicinal plants such
as the peyote cacti by foreigners is threatening the population of such cacti, given that
the plant is reportedly being illegally harvested by visitors, disregarding Indigenous
practices that help to conserve it. 69
43. Indigenous sacred areas are reportedly being turned into commercial attractions,
which are sometimes designated as “archaeological zones” run by the government or
private actors without the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples and
without fair compensation or benefit-sharing. 70 In contrast, for some Indigenous
Peoples, the inscription of their historical sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List
represents a chance to raise the world’s awareness about their culture. 71
44. Scientific tourism represents a threat to the preservation and integrity of
Indigenous culture and knowledge, as universities and scientists access and use
Indigenous knowledge and culture without their free, prior and informed consent. 72
45. States and tourism companies need to increase public awareness of Indigenous
Peoples’ culture throughout the sector. Non-Indigenous-led tourism must ensure that
activities do not perpetuate negative stereotypes about Indigenous Peoples, including
their romanticization or characterization as societies or cultures from the past. 73
Visitors should be educated to ensure that their actions do not clash with Indigenous
culture 74 and be made aware of the historical and ongoing repression of Indigenous
Peoples, as well as their diverse aspirations for the present and the future.
E.
Right to life, liberty and security of the person
46. Tourism projects may bring violence against Indigenous rights defenders as well
as gender-based violence and sex trafficking of Indigenous women and children. In
Thailand, an Indigenous land defender was disappeared and found dead after
protesting the arrests and forced eviction of the Karen Indigenous Peoples from the
Kaeng Krachen forest complex UNESCO world heritage site. 75 In Bangladesh,
tourism has contributed to massive militarization on grounds of guaranteeing security
and protection for tourist centres by the army. 76 In Africa, Indigenous Peoples have
been arrested and detained for trespassing when harvesting plants and other resources
in national parks. 77 In Uganda, there have been reports of violence, killings and
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23-13642
Submission by Red de Mujeres Indígenas sobre Biodiversidad – América Latina y el Caribe.
James D. Muneta, “Peyote Crisis Confronting Modern Indigenous Peoples: The Declining Peyote
Population and a Demand for Conservation”, American Indian Law Journal, vol. 9, No. 1 (2020);
and submission by Red de Mujeres Indígenas sobre Biodiversidad – América Latina y el Caribe.
Communication AL MEX 10/2022 addressed to Mexico; and submissions by Indigenous Peoples
of Mung-Dun-Chun-Kham, Assam, India and Community Empowerment and Social Justice
Network, Nepal.
Submission by Indigenous Peoples of Mung-Dun-Chun-Kham, Assam, India.
Oral intervention, Special Rapporteur consultation of 25 May 2023.
Submission by Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network, Nepal.
Submission by Hadza, United Republic of Tanzania.
Communications AL THA 4/2021 and AL THA 4/2020; and communication AL THA 2/2019
addressed to Thailand, available at https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoad
PublicCommunicationFile?gId=24351.
Communication BGD 8/2020 addressed to Bangladesh, available at https://spcommreports.ohchr.
org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=25810.
See A/HRC/45/34/Add.1, para 96; visit by the Special Rapporteur to the Congo (2020); and
submission by ICCA Philippines.
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