The Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) successfully hosted a three-day capacity-building workshop from March 24–26, 2026, at Cara Lodge Hotel. The workshop, held under the theme “Using Human Rights Tools to Monitor, Protect and Promote Indigenous Peoples’ Rights”, brought together indigenous representatives, civil society actors, and emerging organisations from across Guyana, with the aim of strengthening their understanding and practical use of human rights mechanisms at both national and international levels.
The workshop formed part of APA’s ongoing commitment to advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights through sustained training and sensitisation initiatives. The APA continues to build on its legacy of equipping community leaders and stakeholders with the knowledge needed to engage in decision-making processes and help shape public policy. This initiative also reinforced earlier efforts to foster collaboration among Indigenous bodies nationwide.
Participants included members from APA’s established network, as well as representatives from District Councils and other Indigenous Peoples’ bodies.
Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in a series of interactive sessions, presentations, and group exercises designed to deepen their understanding of human rights frameworks. The first day focused on human rights in the Guyanese context, featuring discussions on monitoring mechanisms and domestic legal frameworks affecting Indigenous Peoples. This was complemented by a sensitisation and discussion session with the Women and Gender Equality Commission, facilitated by Commissioner Vanda Radzik, on the role of the body within Guyana’s human rights framework.
Over the three days, participants explored how to effectively engage with global mechanisms, such as the United Nations, with guidance on reporting, advocacy, and policy engagement. Sessions also included a knowledge exchange on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and practical group work on drafting submissions and statements.
The workshop also addressed pressing challenges facing Indigenous communities, including increased mining and oil exploration, limited access to public information, and the inadequate application of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC). Participants examined how global trends, such as rising demand for natural resources and pressures on international human rights systems, could affect Indigenous communities locally.
By the end of the three-day engagement, participants had strengthened their capacity to utilise human rights tools, contribute to national and international advocacy platforms, and collaborate more effectively across organisations. The workshop ultimately reaffirmed APA’s role as a central force in promoting Indigenous rights in Guyana, while fostering a more unified and informed network of indigenous advocates prepared to respond to evolving social, political, and environmental challenges.