After month-long protests by 4,000 indigenous peoples, the Paraguayan Senate approved a law that gives indigenous communities a greater role in making governmental decisions. The reform calls for the creation of a Consulting Council, which will control funds received by the Paraguayan Indigenous Institute (INDI) and make decisions about the investment of those funds. The council will be composed of the INDI chairperson and six representatives from indigenous communities, according to Prensa Latina.
The protestors also demanded the protection of intellectual property rights to prevent non-authorized use of their cultural identity and scientific knowledge, along with the dismissal of the current INDI chairperson, Marta Davalos. The reform does not increase the financial resources available to indigenous communities. The protests, which began in October and were held in Asuncion, Paraguay, represented indigenous peoples from the Tupí, Guaraní, Maskoy, Mataguayo, Zamuco, and Guaicuru communities, reported VivaParaguay.
