Baku: Development should not come at the expense of the displacement of indigenous peoples, Ronal Boriz Cruz Martinez, indigenous leader and lawyer of Bolivia's Suyu Suras people, said during the session titled 'The Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Adequate Housing for All Indigenous Peoples in Their Diversity' held within the framework of WUF13, APA-Economics reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Martinez emphasized that for indigenous peoples, housing is not just a place to live, but an integral part of their way of life, deeply connected to their culture, traditions, and land. He highlighted the adverse effects of urban expansion, which in some cases results in the forced displacement of indigenous communities from their ancestral lands.

Martinez advocated for the necessity of obtaining the prior informed consent of local communities before implementing urban development projects. He underscored the importance of legislative protection for the collective land rights of indigenous peoples and called for their active participation in the development of housing projects.