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Human Rights Violations Against Indigenous Communities in Latin America

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In Latin America, there are currently 522 indigenous communities, each with its own language and culture. The indigenous population represents about 10% of the total population of Latin America and the Caribbean. However, in two countries, Peru and Guatemala, indigenous peoples account for almost half of the population and in Bolivia, over 60%. Mexico, the indigenous population is only 10% of the total population, but is home to the highest number of indigenous people in the region with 11 million people. After centuries of exclusion and denial, these groups are treated as minorities and live in extreme poverty, often lacking the most basic rights: the rights to land, to speak their native languages and be educated in their mother tongues, the recognition of cultural heritage, access to justice, and the freedom to adhere to the principles and practices of their culture.