International Working Group on Indigenous Peoples in Isolation and Initial Contact (PIACI in Spanish) Holds General Assembly in Suriname

188 records of Indigenous Peoples in Isolation have been identified across South America, yet at least 128 remain unrecognized by States, leaving them at serious risk of disappearance

The International Working Group for the protection of Indigenous Peoples in Isolation and Initial Contact (GTI PIACI) hosts its Annual General Assembly in Paramaribo, Suriname, from 27 to 31 July 2026, bringing together Indigenous organizations and technical experts from across the Amazon and Gran Chaco regions to strengthen regional cooperation for the protection of Indigenous Peoples in Isolation and Initial Contact (PIACI).

The GTI PIACI is an alliance of 21 Indigenous and allied organizations from eight South American countries, working collectively to promote the recognition, protection, and respect for the rights of PIACI through advocacy, technical cooperation, knowledge generation, and regional coordination. In 2024, the Amazon Conservation Team (ACT) was elected by the GTI PIACI members to serve as its Technical Secretariat.

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The General Assembly brings together its representatives to review progress in regional advocacy, discuss emerging threats affecting PIACI territories, strengthen cross-border coordination, and define the Working Group's strategic priorities for the coming year. It will conclude with a high-level dialogue inviting representatives of the Government of Suriname, highlighting the importance of regional cooperation and national commitments to safeguard the rights of PIACI.

The United Nations defines Indigenous Peoples in Isolation as Indigenous Peoples or segments of Indigenous Peoples who do not maintain regular contact with the surrounding society and who generally reject any form of interaction with outsiders. International human rights standards recognize that the most effective way to protect their rights to life, self-determination, health, territory, and culture is to guarantee the integrity of their territories and to prevent unwanted contact.

According to estimates by the GTI PIACI, there are 188 records of Indigenous Peoples in Isolation across South America. While 60 have been officially recognized by States, at least 128 remain without official recognition, leaving them highly affected to external threats and increasing the risk of their disappearance.

The protection of these peoples also contributes to the conservation of tens of millions of hectares of tropical forests that play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity, climate stability, and the cultural heritage of the Amazon Basin and the Gran Chaco.

Suriname occupies a strategic position within the Guiana Shield, a biodiverse region that shares ecological, cultural, and Indigenous connections with the Amazon Basin. While PIACI have not been officially recognized in the country, Suriname faces growing pressures from expanding mining concessions, deforestation, and other drivers of forest loss, while many Indigenous communities continue to lack formal recognition of their land rights. In this context, strengthening preventive policies, Indigenous territorial governance, and regional cooperation is essential to ensuring that any peoples living in isolation -who may move across border regions- are effectively protected in accordance with international human rights standards and the principle of no contact.

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In the Guianas, no Indigenous Peoples in Isolation or Initial contact have been formally identified to date. Any conclusions regarding their possible presence require careful and systematic research. At the same time, stories and signals have been documented that may point to a possible presence in areas near the border with Brazil. This makes regional knowledge exchange, precautionary approaches, and cooperation particularly relevant for Suriname and the wider Guianas.

Within Suriname's national ambitions around High Forest, Low Deforestation (HFLD), the 30x30 target, and green development, attention to PIACI can contribute to stronger policy considerations around the conservation, sustainable management, and protection of the country's forests. The issue also connects to broader questions of land-use planning, precaution, the protection of vulnerable populations, biodiversity, and the responsible use of natural resources.

These issues will be addressed during the Government Session on 31 July, which will include discussions on the biocultural territorial situation and conservation in Suriname, the situation of PIACI in Suriname, PIACI confirmation methodology, and the role of PIACI in forest governance. The session aims to foster political dialogue between the GTI PIACI and the State of Suriname, identify areas of cooperation, and highlight the need to protect and recognize the rights of Indigenous Peoples, particularly those in situations of isolation and initial contact.