Rights
The Constitution of Brazil, of 1988, assured indigenous peoples a respect
for their social organization, customs, languages, beliefs and traditions,
and recognized their original right over the lands that they have traditionally
occupied.
These were important conquests in the defense of the Rights of the
indigenous peopl who live in Brazil. It was the result of a long process
of obtaining public support, awareness, mobilization and pressure on
the part of the indigenous movement and support for the indigenous peoples.
During the work of the Constituent Assembly that prepared the Constitution
between 1987 and 1988, the indigenous peoples and their allies were
active in Congress, demanding their rights, discussing proposals and
influencing congressmen and public opinion in general. The result was
the approval of the rights consecrated in previous constitutions and
an expansion of the definition of other important guarantees in the
current Brazilian constitution, promulgated on October 8, 1988.
