New York  - Indigenous people of the Chaco regions in both Bolivia and Paraguay suffer forced labour, severe poverty and human rights abuses, a United Nations panel on indigenous issues said in a report released Monday.

The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues said, following visits to the regions in April and May, that forced labour continued to be practised despite government efforts to stop it.

"In addition, the indigenous peoples of the Chaco face severe poverty, lack food and water security, and are confronted with a series of human rights abuses related to land rights, child labour, freedom of association and discrimination," the panel said.

"In some areas, those seeking to defend their rights were the target of systematic violence and threats," it said.

It called on the UN to send a strong message to the two governments so they can improve living conditions of indigenous groups.  dpa