Around the world, those who defend the environment and the human rights that depend on it face all types of obstacles, challenges and threats. Overcoming adversity, environmental human rights defenders have been working to change the lifes of many.
Cause of conflict
Right defended
Country
Rights defended: right to effective remedies;right to environmental information;right to food;right to freedom of assembly and association;right to freedom of expression and opinion;right to health;right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation
Gabon
The Belinga Iron Ore Mine was going to be located in a remote area of Northeast Gabon and to be powered by a new dam which was going to cover famous waterfalls inside a National Park, as well as connected to a new deepwater port through a new railway. The overall project required an investment of 3.5 billion USD, but did not have an environmental impact assessment and threatened forests, biodiversity and local livelihoods such as fishing, as well as thriving on corruption. After Gabonian civil society protested against the project and its manifold negative impacts, China Export-Import Bank which was planning to bankroll the project withdrew its support. (…)
Rights defended: right to environmental information;right to freedom of expression and opinion;right to participate in environmental decision-making
Iraq
China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) is one of the international oil companies operating in Iraq after the war and in difficult circumstances. The company has contributed significantly to the country joining the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) by participating in the MultiStakeholder Groups (MSG) of EITI. (…)
Rights defended: right to environmental information;right to participate in environmental decision-making
Honduras
From 2012 to 2013, Sinohydro was planning to build the Agua Zarca Hydropower Project on the Gualcarque river in Honduras. The project is opposed by the local indigenous Lenca population who according to international right have to be consulted and give their consent. In 2013 Sinohydro pulled back from the project due to increasing violent conflict around the project, including deaths of local opponents. The local company continued to move forward with the project. (…)
Rights defended: right to environmental information;right to freedom of expression and opinion;right to participate in environmental decision-making;rights of indigenous peoples
Peru
SAPET, the Peruvian subsidiary of CNPC has been one of the first Chinese overseas oil undertakings and is operating in Peru since the 1990s. In 2005 SAPET acquired exploration rights for Block 113, which overlapped with a Territorial Reserve for indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation, groups that are extremely vulnerable to contact with outsiders because of a lack of immunity to diseases which are common in the rest of the world. (…)
Rights defended: land rights;right to health;right to participate in environmental decision-making;rights of indigenous peoples
Bangladesh
‘As a group of lawyers, BELA was established in 1992 with the objective of promoting environmental justice and contributing to the development of sound environmental jurisprudence.’ (…)
Rights defended: children´s rights;right to development;right to effective remedies;right to environmental information;right to food;right to health;right to life;right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation
Kenya
‘In 2016, the Center for Justice Governance and Environmental Action (CJGEA), instituted a class action lawsuit on behalf of the Owino Uhuru community in a Kenyan Environment and Land Court, in relation to lead contamination and poisoning.’ (…)
Rights defended: children´s rights;right to effective remedies;right to environmental information;right to health;right to life
Ecuador
Rights defended: right to environmental information;right to freedom of assembly and association;right to freedom of expression and opinion;right to health;right to life;right to participate in environmental decision-making;rights of EHRD;rights of indigenous peoples;women´s rights
