Wednesday March 23, 2022 | 20:02
The Convention approved, and dispatched the draft of the new constitutional text, defining Chile as a “Plurinational and Intercultural State”. In addition, the native peoples will have the “right to the full exercise of their collective and individual rights.” In this sense, the norm mentions the rights to self-government, to recognize their lands and their heritage.
The plenary of the Constitutional Convention approved this Wednesday, in particular, the definition of Chile as a “Plurinational and Intercultural State”.
“Chile is a Plurinational and Intercultural State that recognizes the coexistence of various nations and peoples within the framework of the unity of the State”records the first paragraph of article 4, which was endorsed by 115 votes in favor, 34 once morest and 4 abstentions.
By 110 votes in favor, 41 once morest and no abstentions, it was also approved that “pre-existing indigenous peoples and nations are the Mapuche, Aymara, Rapa Nui, Lickanantay, Quechua, Colla, Diaguita, Chango, Kawashkar, Yaghan, Selk’nam and others that they may be recognized in the manner established by law.
With this, both articles will go to the draft of the new constitutional text, which should be ready by the end of June for the citizens to vote for in the exit plebiscite.
Convention: self-government of native peoples
On the other hand, article 5 of the Political System text was also approved. In its first paragraph, it states that the native peoples have “right to the full exercise of their collective and individual rights”.
“In particular, they have right to autonomy and self-governmentto their own culture, to their identity and worldview, to their heritage and language, to the recognition of their lands, territories and the protection of the maritime territory”, among other attributions.
This proposal reached just the 104 votes that allow it to go to the draft of the constitutional text.
With 11 votes in favor, 35 once morest and 5 abstentions, it was also endorsed that “it is the duty of the Plurinational State to respect, guarantee and promote, with the participation of indigenous peoples and nations, the exercise of self-determination and collective rights and individuals of which they are holders”.
Finally, the conventions gave the green light to the following norm: “The State must guarantee the effective participation of indigenous peoples in the exercise and distribution of power, incorporating their representation in the structure of the State, its organs and institutionsas well as their political representation in popularly elected bodies at the local, regional and national levels”.
