Human Rights

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Press Release: The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and MiningWatch Canada today expressed deep concern at the political pressure being brought to bear on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), the western hemisphere’s primary organ for protecting human rights.  Under substantial pressure from governments, the IACHR decided in late December to modify an earlier order regarding the controversial Marlin mine in Guatemala, the subject of an ongoing human rights complaint

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Presentation: In the context of Colombia's ongoing internal armed struggle, President Santos has declared mining a new economic engine for Colombia, running up against the rights of indigenous, afro-Colombian, campesino, small scale and artisanal miners, and water users. Jen Moore gave this presentation at a teach-in organized in Toronto by the Colombia Action Solidarity Alliance (CASA) and the Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity Network (LACSN) on December 4, 2011.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

This is a synopsis of a paper by Catherine Coumans published in: Governance Ecosystems CSR in the Latin American Mining Sector, edited by Julia Sagebien and Nicole Marie Lindsay, in the International Political Economy Series published by Palgrave Macmillan, November 2011.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

News release: The government of Zamboanga del Norte in the Philippines has issued an ordinance prohibiting new open pit mines in the province.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Open Letter: Civil society organizations in the US and Canada have sent a letter to Ecuadorian authorities in protest against the criminalization of indigenous and non-indigenous environmental defenders. Specifically, the letter speaks out against the criminalization of three leaders in the south-central province of Azuay who have been protesting IAMGOLD's proposed gold-silver project situated in the headwaters of dairy-producing communities.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

News Release: Canadian labour, faith, social justice, and solidarity organizations have sent a letter to the Canadian Embassy in Colombia expressing concern that Canadian mining companies may well be aggravating or benefiting from violence.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Communiqué: In the following statement issued on September 9th, the Regional Indigenous Council of the department of Caldas and the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers' Collective condemn the murder of José Reinel Restrepo, parish priest of the municipality of Marmato, who was found dead on September 2, 2011.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

News release: After a year of delays, Guatemala has backtracked on its promise to comply with precautionary measures issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and to suspend Goldcorp's Marlin mine.

Friday, July 15, 2011

In the struggle to protect their water supply against Canadian-led gold mining, Salvadorans have had to fight for their lives and for their democracy. An excellent article by Robin Broad and John Cavanagh originally published in The Nation.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Fifty-two international civil society organizations have asked Honduran authorities to stop criminalizing environmental defenders and to ensure them personal freedom, due process, and the right to continue their defence of human rights.