The last week of March 2012, Angelica Ortiz Ipuana, member of the movement Sütsüin Jiyeyu Wayuu - Fuerza de Mujeres Wayuu (Wayuu Women's Force), gave her testimony in the Interamerican Comission of Human Rights,  about the dramatic situation of Wayuu indigenous women who are facing the consequences not only of the internal armed conflict but the expansion of multinationals exploiting coal in their ancestral land.

People in solidarity with the Wayuu indigenous people from Colombia in the United States, request your support to prevent the force displacement of hundreds of Wayuu people from their territory.

Please sing the petition!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/215/355/392/colombia-protect-the-wayuu-people-from-extinction/

Colombia, Protect the Wayuu People from Extinction

• Target: Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon
• Sponsored by: Raedene M.

The Wayuu people are in danger of becoming extinct. According to Amnesty International, this indigenous group is one of 34 Colombian nations that are in immediate danger of disappearing forever if something is not done immediately.

Angelica Ortiz, a Wayuu, testified at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights earlier on in the year and spoke about how mining has gravely impacted her community. She states that her people have higher rates of diseases, including cancer, and their environment has changed as sources of food have disappeared. Ortiz also mentioned how there has been an increase of violence as women are being raped and people are being killed. Many have fled the area and if this continues, the whole Wayuu people will be dispersed and their culture will be lost forever.

Please tell the President of Colombia and the Secretary-General of the United Nations to intervene and save these people!