Spain positions itself as a leader in cooperation with the indigenous peoples of Latin America.

In a context of economic crises, local and global conflicts, and uncertainty about the direction of international politics, a context in which Latin America is no exception, Spain has been positioning itself as a promoter of development cooperation for indigenous peoples in the region . Taking as a reference Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, adopted by the International Labour Organization in 1991 and ratified in Europe only by Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, and Spain, it is possible, to date, to distinguish different levels of action in terms of cooperation with indigenous peoples in this part of the world.

Of this handful of countries, only Spain has a well-defined foreign policy toward the indigenous peoples of Latin America, based, in principle, on the Cooperation Law.

Of the countries that have ratified the Convention, only Norway and Denmark have indigenous peoples within their borders. The former has the Sami or Lapps , and the latter, the Inuit or Kalaallit . In these contexts, ongoing internal tensions and demands to ensure government consistency with Convention 169 have not been long in coming.

In terms of international cooperation, collaboration with indigenous peoples is minimal, and especially in Latin America, it is scarce, as it focuses primarily on other geographic areas. As an exception, we can mention some cooperation agreements between Denmark and Bolivia that address this issue.

Spain has been developing a series of regulatory and institutional actions that have favored the development of these communities in Latin America, prioritizing international cooperation projects in this area, although it should be noted that it also does so in other regions of the world.

An example of this is the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). Among other things, it has developed a specific action strategy for the defense of the rights of indigenous peoples, implemented through the Indigenous Program, which is responsible for coordinating and guiding interventions in this area. Furthermore, in 1992, the country created the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean (FILAC), based in Bolivia, as an international public law organization.

One of the strategic collaborations between AECID and FILAC that has undoubtedly had the greatest impact is the financial and technical support for the Expert Diploma in Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights, and International Cooperation. Key players in achieving this cooperation agreement were the Francisco de Vitoria Institute of International and European Studies of the Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M) and the Intercultural Indigenous University (UII), among others. Upon completion of the course, UC3M, as a top-tier institution, awards the apostilled diploma.

A considerable number of students have graduated from this course, which is unique in its field internationally due to its subject matter, scope, and focus. The training has allowed members of Indigenous communities to implement the knowledge and skills they have acquired in human rights and international cooperation. Beyond the educational aspect, this course represents a space for intercultural dialogue, as its graduates include not only Indigenous people but also students from other regions of the world, which has allowed for the creation of bonds of understanding between diverse knowledge and worldviews.

Spain's responsibility to protect human rights, beyond its historical and cultural relations with the indigenous peoples of Latin America, has translated into increasing action in support of their rights through regulatory and institutional development, as well as a growing presence and concern for the problems facing these peoples.

However, despite the progress made in defending Indigenous peoples, much remains to be done, as in a landscape as diverse and complex as Latin America, the path is far from easy. Spain has work to do to position itself as a leader in this area. On the one hand, externally, self-criticism and recognition of the consequences of colonialism on Indigenous peoples would be helpful.

Despite the progress made in defending indigenous peoples, there is still much to be done, because in a scenario as diverse and complex as Latin America, the path is not easy.

The coherence between recognition and action can serve as an example to other European Union Member States that present themselves as promoters of human rights. Therefore, it is essential for Spain to play a leading and strategic role in multilateral forums to raise awareness about the importance of international cooperation at a time when needs are numerous and diverse and resources are scarce.

On the other hand, and in pragmatic terms, it is necessary to allocate more budget to meet the goals that the Spanish State itself has set, such as reaching 0.7% of GDP in Official Development Assistance (ODA). Even with the challenges, problems, and obstacles, both internal and external, continuing along this path can position Spain as a leader among other European countries in international cooperation for Indigenous peoples.