Exploring ethno-racial policy for the Garinagu in Central America: making the case for Black Indigeneity

Across the Central American region, several groups received political autonomy by the end of the 20th century. By granting autonomy to these groups, countries like Nicaragua acknowledged certain populations as members of distinct ethnic groups. This was not the case for every country or group in the region, and the lack of effective ethno-racial policy-making considerations across Central America has led to language attrition, loss of land and water rights, and commodification of historic communities. This article focuses on Honduras and Belize as unique sites of ethno-racial and socio-cultural policy making, group identity making and unmaking, and group rights for the Garinagu. Specifically, this work forwards a re-examination of national ethno-racial policy and a critical assessment of political models based on ethno-cultural collective rights intended to combat racial discrimination.

Influence of Land and Water Rights on Land Degradation in Central Asia

Land degradation is a key issue for Central Asia as an agrarian region. Land degradation in Central Asia is usually seen as a technological challenge and corresponding solutions are associated with the improvement of land-use technology. However, the reality is more complicated and multi-faceted. Institutional aspects of land degradation in the region are more prominent and yet unnoticed. De-linked water and land rights, increased land production functions, water infrastructure degradation, a lack of water-use monitoring, and a lack of knowledge among water users constitute the major institutional aspects of land degradation in Central Asia. This paper looks at the linkages between water and land rights and the main aspects of land degradation. The research was built on a literature review, including internationally funded project reports and in-house investigations.

DIMENSIONES DE GÉNERO DE LOS MERCADOS DE DERECHOS DE AGUA Y TIERRA EN EL DISTRITO DE RIEGO 101 CUXTEPEQUES, CHIAPAS

Se analizan las dimensiones de género de los procesos de mercantilización de los derechos agrarios y los de agua para regadío en el área de influencia del Distrito de Riego 101 Cuxtepeques, que se localizan en la Región Frailesca de Chiapas. En el contexto de la individualización y privatización de los recursos naturales, se identifican los mecanismos de mercado que vulneran el derecho de las mujeres a la propiedad sobre los recursos naturales. Se sostiene que, en el marco de las relaciones y estructuras de poder existentes, los mercados de derechos de agua y tierra recrean mecanismos de exclusión social e inequidad de género en los procesos de gestión de los recursos naturales a nivel local. ABSTRACTWe analyze the gender dimensions of the commodification of land and water rights for irrigation in the area of 101 Cuxtepeques Irrigation District, in Frailesca region of Chiapas.In the context of individualization and privatization of natural resources, identify market mechanisms that violate the right of women to ownership of natural resources. It is argued that, in the context of relationships and existing power structures, markets for land and water rights recreate mechanisms of social exclusion and gender inequality in the management of natural resources at the local level.