Indigenous peoples are seeking recognition of their identity, way of life, rights to their territories and traditional resources. Despite this, their rights have been systematically violated throughout history and, to this day, they remain one of the most vulnerable populations, a situation that has undoubtedly been exacerbated by the global crisis due to COVID-19, which has exposed many existing inequalities.
The international community recognises that special measures are needed to protect their rights and maintain their cultures and ways of life. Archives and the documentation preserved in them are an essential tool for protecting the rights of these communities. The Iberarchives Programme is committed to recovering the memory of indigenous peoples and Afro-descendants and therefore has a priority line called “Promoting the multicultural perspective”, aimed at projects that contribute to respecting Ibero-American ethnic and cultural diversity, identifying the needs and solutions of ethnic-racial groups or acting in defence of these population groups.
To commemorate this day, we would like to bring you a very interesting project, carried out in two phases by the General Archive of the Nation of Colombia, called “Sources for the recovery of the historical memory of indigenous communities, Afro-descendants and vulnerable populations “.
The aim of the project was to identify the sources held at the AGN and, through educational activities, teach young people from the communities the concepts and relationships between victims’ law, historical memory and archives, and the importance of recovering their historical memory.
You can consult the two phases of this project here:
Phase I: Project 2010/090
Phase II: Project 2012/040
