Indigenous people: Rights commission reveals corruption threatening access to public service.

The 32nd edition was held under the theme: “Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Preserving Life and Well-Being.” 

In the statement, the rights commission stated that the increase in corruption affects indigenous people by increasing their exposure to illegal exploitation of land, forests and other natural resources. 

It described corruption as a factor that compounds the economic and social difficulties faced by indigenous communities.

The institution stated that the problem can seriously undermine their rights, particularly when public resources intended for health, education, social protection or cultural heritage preservation are diverted from their intended purposes. 

It however said the issue is particularly significant for communities living in rural or forest areas where access to infrastructure and basic social services can already be limited. 

The Commission also linked corruption to growing pressure on natural resources saying corrupt practices can facilitate illegal exploitation of land, forests and other resources on which Indigenous communities depend, sometimes without their free, prior and informed consent. 

The body stated that the consequences extend beyond environmental protection to access to forests and land supports food supplies, economic activities, traditional medicine and the transmission of knowledge. 

The CHRC has called on affected communities to have a more systematic role in decisions that could affect their territories and resources.

Reflecting on the United Nations theme for this year's edition, the Commission pinpointed the situation of indigenous midwives and the preservation of their traditional knowledge. 

It said corruption can weaken the institutional support available to Indigenous midwives by depriving basic health facilities of essential medicines, adequate infrastructure and programs designed to support traditional medicine. 

The Commission has recommended that the Ministries of Social Affairs, Public Health, Women’s Empowerment and the Family, and that of Territorial Administration to involve indigenous people in policies concerning health, the environment, cultural heritage and local development. 

It has also urged the Ministry of Arts and Culture to work with the ministries responsible for social affairs and public health to develop programs that document and preserve the knowledge of indigenous midwives. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3876 of Wednesday August 12, 2026