CAFOD has welcomed a ruling by Brazil's Supreme Court to uphold the rights of indigenous people to remain on their ancestral land. The decision was made last night - a momentous day for such a positive outcome as yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the Brazilian Constitution and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

For decades, five indigenous peoples have called on the Brazilian government to protect their land, Raposa Serra do Sol, in the state of Roraima, in the north of the country.

The Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, officially recognised the land as belonging to the Macuxi, Ingaricó, Taurepang, Patamona and Wapichana groups in 2005 - but powerful farmers, who occupy a significant part of it, refused to leave the area.

The indigenous communities have been subjected to violence and intimidation from famers for many years, and tensions have increased in recent months.

More than 2,000 CAFOD supporters signed a petition to protect the indigenous communities' land following a visit to the UK by Jacir José de Souza and Pierlangela Nascimento da Cunha, in June.

Jacir and Pierlangela, who are from the Makuxi and Wapichana groups, toured Europe in a bid to gain international support for their campaign to save their Amazon forest home, and met the Holy Father at the Vatican.

The Roraima State government supported the farmers and petitioned the Brazilian Supreme Court to annul the 2005 decision. Had their case succeeded, indigenous people's territory would have been split up and their land significantly reduced.

CAFOD's Head of Latin America and Caribbean programmes, Clare Dixon, said: "It's a particularly momentous day for this welcome outcome, coinciding not only with the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but also with the 20th anniversary of the Brazilian Constitution which broke new ground and set high standards in its recognition of the rights of indigenous people."

"We are delighted that the Brazilian court has respected the right of its indigenous peoples to continue to live where their ancestors have for thousands of years.

"CAFOD would like to thank the Catholic community in England and Wales for supporting Jacir and Pierlangela and the indigenous communities in Brazil during this difficult time.

"We will continue to stand in solidarity with our partners in Brazil so that justice prevails." Notes to editor

• CAFOD is the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development which works with communities in over 50 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, supporting people to find their own solutions to poverty. The agency works with all people regardless of race, gender, religion or nationality. • The aid agency works in partnership with the local diocese and the Indigenous Council of Roraima which Jacir helped to found, to ensure the rights of indigenous peoples are respected and the livelihoods of communities living on the land are secured now and for future generations. For more information about this press release please contact Debbie Wainwright on 0207 095 5557, 07785 950585 dwainwright@cafod.org.uk