A/78/162 arbitrary arrests of the Benet people by forest rangers and the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Mount Elgon National Park. 78 47. Indigenous women and girls are among the most marginalized groups in the tourism industry owing to multilayered discrimination based on gender, Indigenous identity and socioeconomic status. In Asia, the Special Rapporteur received repo rts that tourism had fostered violence against women, including rape by tourists, with perpetrators rarely held accountable. 79 Women are also likely to be subjected to sexual violence when forcibly evicted from their lands. 80 Owing to discrimination within their own community and in wider society, Indigenous women lack access to education or training to qualify them for employment in the tourism industry or are limited to low-paying jobs. They are more vulnerable to labour exploitation, including prostitution, and are at greater risk of trafficking for sex tourism. 81 In some cases, loss of land and resources as a result of tourism development limits Indigenous women ’s autonomy, economic self-sufficiency, access to productive resources and ability to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes. 82 VI. Corporate social responsibility 48. Corporations are heavily involved in formulating and carrying out tourism projects and programmes. They often exclude Indigenous Peoples from their business operations while profiting from their lands, resources and cultural heritage. 49. In Nepal, the Pradhan Newar Indigenous Peoples lost access to their lands, resources and religious and cultural sites following the construction of the Chhaya Center complex by Marriott International. Owing to delays in administrative and judicial proceedings to recognize the Newar peoples’ land rights, the complex was built despite protests and without the free, prior and informed consent of the Newar, who experienced threats and violence when they engaged in peaceful resistance against the project. 83 Promoted as the biggest business complex in Nepal’s history, the Chhaya Center houses 200 store spaces, including high-end brand outlets, along with multiplex theatres and corporate offices. The largest source of its revenue is the five-star hotel, Aloft Kathmandu Thamel, a franchise of Marriott International. The company reportedly retaliated against those opposing the construction by filing strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPP) suits and criminal charges against them, while others have faced death threats from union leaders 84 of workers at the complex. 85 __________________ 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 14/25 Communication UGA 5/2022 addressed to Uganda. Submissions by Chittagong Hill Tract and Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network, Nepal; and joint submission by International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs and Indigenous People Rights International. Submissions by Chittagong Hill Tract and Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network, Nepal. Submissions by Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network, Nepal and Center for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance and Endorois People, Kenya; and joint submission by Indigenous Peoples Rights International and International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs. Joint submission by Indigenous Peoples Rights International and International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs. Communication AL OTH 183/2021; communication AL NPL 1/2021; communication AL USA 16/2021 addressed to the United States, available at https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResults Base/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=26309 ; and communication AL OTH 184/2021, available at https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunication File?gId=26311. See also A/HRC/45/34/Add.3. Other reports indicate that local labour unions and managers encourage tourism, while the construction industry lobbies for larger resorts and universities fund travel and tourism programmes. Submission by Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network, Nepal. 23-13642

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