World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Venezuela
| Publisher | Minority Rights Group International |
| Publication Date | 2007 |
| Cite as | Minority Rights Group International, World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Venezuela, 2007, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4954ce6821.html [accessed 25 September 2016] |
| Comments | In October 2015, MRG revised its World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples. For the most part, overview texts were not themselves updated, but the previous 'Current state of minorities and indigenous peoples' rubric was replaced throughout with links to the relevant minority-specific reports, and a 'Resources' section was added. Refworld entries have been updated accordingly. |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Environment
Venezuela is located in northern South America and is bounded on the north by the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. The geography of Venezuela consists of mountainous regions that extend to the Colombian Border, plains delineated by the Orinoco River, and the coastal region. Venezuela has at least 36 distinct minority groups inhabiting all 23 states. Afro-Venezuelans are highly concentrated along the Caribbean coast and indigenous people are the majority in the Amazonian region.
History
Upon arrival in Venezuela, the Spanish conquerors found a diverse array of settled as well as nomadic and semi-nomadic indigenous groups. During the Spanish colonial regime the indigenous population retained their resguardos, communally held reserved land, but these were largely destroyed after independence. Venezuela also imported a considerable number of enslaved Africans to work on cocoa plantations starting in the 16th century. Miscegenation, or racial mixing, resulted in a complex system of ethnic inclusion and exclusion. Although the Venezuelan government has only officially recognized 28 indigenous groups, the 2002 census shows that there are least 35 distinct groups.
Peoples
Main languages: Spanish, indigenous languages
Main religions: Christianity (majority Roman Catholic), African-derived and indigenous religions
Minority groups include Afro-Venezuelans and indigenous peoples.
According to the 2001 constitution, indigenous peoples number 534,816 (2.2%), representing 28 groups, the largest of which include the Wayuú, Warao, Pemón, and Añu. More than 95 per cent of indigenous people live in nine of Venezuela's 23 federal districts. Official data has never been collected on the Afro-Venezuelan population.
Governance
An attempted military coup in 1992 and a series of general strikes due to discontent with economic and agricultural policies, threatened Venezuela's democratic government. Although Chavez was elected to the presidency by popular vote in 1998, his rise to power came after he participated in the 1992 attempted coup in which 120 people were killed. Operating on what some call a populist platform, Chavez has enjoyed overwhelming support by the majority of the Venezuelan population, among them many Afro-Venezuelans and indigenous people. However, Venezuelan politics have become increasingly polarized under the Chavez administration. With sharp divides between the Chavistas (supporters of Chavez) and the AntiChavistas (the opposition), ethnic and racial undertones pervade Venezuela's current political environment. Some of Chavez's controversial reform policies include the gradual de-privatization of oil industry as well as the granting of collective rights for indigenous people.
In 2002, amidst work stoppages and weeks of massive protest in opposition to Chavez, the Organization of American States facilitated the calling of a referendum to determine if Chavez should finish his presidential term. In 2004, Chavez won the referendum, and since has continued his sweeping policy reforms aimed at bringing justice and equality to the poor. The opposition asserts that such reforms threaten both democracy and the economy in Venezuela. The popular classes, including many Afro-Venezuelans and indigenous people, have supported the Chavez government.
Although indigenous rights have been at the forefront of Chavez's political agenda, his government has done little in the way of guaranteeing official recognition or rights for Afro-Venezuelans. Nevertheless, Chavez's acknowledgement of his own African heritage paired with his campaign to improve the living conditions of the poor more generally has resonated with the majority of Afro-Venezuelans. In March of 2005, Chavez re-designed the Venezuelan flag and among the changes are the inclusion of indigenous symbols and a machete, which has been interpreted as a symbol of the noble peasant and in some cases as representative of Afro-Venezuelans.
Minorities
Resources
Minority based and advocacy organisations
Afro-Venezuelan
Red de Organizaciones Afrovenezolanas (Network of Afro-Venezuelan Organizations)
Tel: +58 212 571 0340
Email: afroamerica@cantv.net
Website: www.redafrovenezolana.com
General
Amnesty International
Tel: +58 212 576 5344, 576 1787
Website: www.amnistia.org.ve
Indigenous
Consejo Nacional Indio de Venezuela (CONIVE)
Tel: +58 212 6158334
Email: nmaldonado@fondoindigena.net
Website: http://www.conive.org
Sources and further reading
Afro-Venezuelan
Bermudez, E. and Suarez, M.M., 'Venezuela', in MRG (ed.), No Longer Invisible: Afro-Latin Americans Today, London, Minority Rights Publications, 1995.
Indigenous
Colchester, M. with Watson, F., Venezuela: Violations of Indigenous Rights, report to the International Labour Office on the observation of ILO Convention 107, London, Survival International and World Rainforest Movement, 1995.
