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Make it a First for Africa

Sign our petition to Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso

Sign our petition to ask Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso to pass Africa’s first law protecting indigenous forest peoples.
Rights to land, resources, education, health and citizenship could be enshrined in law for Indigenous Peoples in the Republic of Congo by the end of 2007.

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Our request:

Your Excellency

I am writing to congratulate you for the law your government has developed, promoting and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples in the Republic of Congo.

Your government will be the first in Africa to pass legislation to ensure that indigenous peoples, often the most marginalised within society, are able to enjoy their full rights as citizens.

I was particularly encouraged to see that:

• Indigenous people will be fully consulted before any action is taken which may have an impact on them

• The state will ensure that indigenous people are represented in political and administrative life

• Any form of forced assimilation or integration will be forbidden

• Indigenous people will have full rights to access health and education provided by the state

• Measures will be put in place to enable indigenous children to obtain identity documents

• Indigenous people will have collective property rights

• Sacred sites will be protected under law

• Indigenous people will have full access rights to land and resources which they use

• A special support fund will be set up to help improve indigenous peoples’ livelihoods

I therefore welcome the support that you have already given to the law in your statement delivered by the Minister for Forests at the first International Forum for Indigenous Peoples in the Congo Basin in Impfondo in April 2007. I encourage you to continue supporting this legislation through the parliamentary in its entirety.

In the hope that this law will soon become reality.

Yours faithfully,

The Rainforest Foundation will protect your privacy and keep you posted about this and similar campaigns.

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