Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM)

Discrimination
Of all of the factors that lead to extreme poverty
like arson, rape, or murder. In the face of this violent
discrimination, it is impossible for indigenous peoples
among indigenous peoples, the most important may
be the discrimination that they encounter from the
ethnic majority population and the government. 157
Such discrimination is especially relevant if the
indigenous population has been evicted from
their tribal lands and
are forced to seek
new employment
opportunities outside
of their traditional
occupations. Many
indigenous peoples
have trouble securing
jobs because members
of the majority ethnic
population own and
operate most businesses
and are averse to hiring
indigenous labor. Many
employers do not value
indigenous knowledge and skills and instead see
indigenous peoples as uneducated and backwards.
Even when they can secure employment, indigenous
people are almost always underpaid in comparison
to non-minorities. An analysis of these earnings
differentials globally shows that between 25% and 50%
of the differences in pay can be account for as a result
of discrimination. this distinction is especially acute
for jobs that require higher levels of education. 158 in
addition to employment, discrimination also prevents
indigenous peoples from accessing educational
opportunities and healthcare. 159
to continue with their traditional livelihoods or with
their attempts to establish new lives elsewhere. On
the other hand, extreme poverty can also be the cause
of violence and crime among indigenous populations.
Without meaningful educational opportunities or
employment, many
indigenous youth
commit violent acts or
crimes in desperation.
Thus, the problem with
lawlessness is present
on both sides; in order
to bring indigenous
people out of poverty,
we must protect them
from discriminatory
crimes, but the poverty
that discrimination
causes among the same
population leads them to
commit their own crimes.
In some circumstances, discrimination can take
the form of violence and crime. Indigenous peoples
sometimes find themselves subject to constant attacks
from members of the majority ethnic population in the
form of nonviolent harassment or more violent crimes
160 It is impossible to provide
developmental aid to areas with significant violence,
an issue that has rendered many governments and
civil society organizations inactive in the face of
indigenous poverty. It is therefore urgent that the
international community finds a way to stop this cycle
of violence.
Discrimination is most prevalent in urban
environments in which indigenous peoples live
side-by-side with members of the majority ethnic
group and members of other minority populations.
Indigenous peoples are often driven to cities by land
dispossession and eviction and the search for new
employment opportunities, as shown in many of the
examples described above. Once in cities, however,
indigenous peoples are often unable to find adequate
employment or housing. 161 Upon moving to a city in search of employment, many indigenous
peoples find themselves living in slums, such as the infamous Rochina
slum in Rio de Janeiro.
If they are lucky enough to
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