Although it has been present in the region for many years, organized crime has recently become a major threat to the Amazon and Indigenous rights and territories. Our upcoming report, Amazon Underworld, presents a shocking analysis of the impacts of illicit economies and a series of recommendations on how to respond.

Amazon Underworld shows how Indigenous territorial control and governance have proven to be a xxxxxx against illegal economies, but leaders and communities are facing threats and violence from organized crime. At the same time, governmental approaches concentrate almost exclusively on repression and militarization.

Supporting Indigenous rights, economies, and territorial control have proven to be much more effective and should be central to any local and national governmental policies, as well as viable approaches for international cooperation and institutions.

Amazon Watch and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime will launch the report on November 22, after which the participating organizations will lead a series of advocacy initiatives in Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, and the United States. You can read an advance preview of the report's conclusions and recommendations today.