Under the slogan “Think Tech Forward—but Indigenous Rights First!”, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) is organizing a vigil to mark the opening of the 2026 Hannover Messe. The event will take place on Sunday, April 19, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. on the grassy area northeast of the Hannover Congress Center (HCC). The human rights organization criticizes the fact that this year’s partner country, Brazil, while presenting itself as a pioneer of a “green transformation,” simultaneously disenfranchises Indigenous communities and sacrifices their territories for resource extraction projects.

“This vigil sends a clear message: A sustainable future must not come at the expense of Indigenous Peoples. Technological progress without human rights is no progress,” explains Eliane Fernandes, STP’s Advisor on Indigenous Peoples. “When the Brazilian state exploits oil reserves or privatizes waterways for economic profit, this all too often happens without the free, prior, and informed consent of the affected communities. In doing so, Brazil violates human rights standards such as ILO Convention 169.”

Particularly alarming is the approval of exploratory drilling for oil in the Foz do Amazonas Basin. This project contradicts the goals of a sustainable energy transition promoted at the Hannover Messe, as Brazil is simultaneously pushing ahead with the development of new fossil fuel resources. The project threatens not only one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth and one of the most important CO₂ sinks, but also the livelihoods of indigenous communities in the north of the state of Amapá, including the Kari-puna, Galibi Marworno, Galibi Kali’na, and Palikur Arukwayene. Local organizations report growing pressure on territories, a sharp influx into nearby cities, and increasing social tensions in the region.

“For Indigenous Peoples, protecting their territories from overexploitation is not an abstract environmental issue but a matter of survival. They are paying the price for destructive progress that endangers their territories and communities,” said Fernandes.

The STP calls on the Brazilian government and involved companies, as well as international companies and policymakers, to:

• consistently protect and accelerate the demarcation of the territories of Indigenous Peoples in Brazil;
• fully implement the right to free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) before implementing projects affecting Indigenous territories;
• an end to the expansion of extractive and infrastructure projects in Indigenous territories without the consent of the affected communities;
• a human rights-based approach to global supply chains in the context of the energy transition.

Note for editorial offices: The vigil focuses on Indigenous perspectives, as their voices are missing at the Hannover Messe. On-site, statements by Indigenous representatives will be amplified, and key demands will be visibly presented. Ana Neves, a member of the Fulni-ô Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, will be on-site as STP’s contact person.

This press release was translated from German to English using AI. If you come across errors or ambiguities, please contact us at presse@gfbv.de.