Tracking cases that protect freedom of expression, association, and assembly
Topic: Environmental Defender
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The criminalization of Ugandans protesting the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP)
These cases concern violations of the freedom of assembly and the freedom of expression in Uganda, where environmental defenders protesting the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) have faced criminal charges for peacefully demonstrating against the project.
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Carlos Choc Case
Carlos Choc is a Mayan community journalist who has faced constant criminalization since 2017, as a result of his work documenting and investigating environmental rights violations. There is one on-going criminal proceeding against Mr. Choc.
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Minor Delgado Case
Indigenous rights defender Minor Ortíz Delgado has been victim of several attacks, aggressions, threats and assassination attempts that have gone unpunished to this day, despite having many of its perpetrators identified. Additionally, there are currently four criminalization proceedings against Mainor and his family.
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Zongo Communities
The Zongo communities have been greatly affected by a scheelita’s mine for the past decades. Even though the Tribunal Constitucional Plurinacional has acknowledged the indigenous jurisdiction and backed its decisions to expel the mining company, they have not been complied with. Additionally, many community members have been criminalized.
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Guapinol Case
Guapinol defenders have faced criminalization and attacks against them for years, in retaliation for their work as community leaders and human rights defenders. This case discusses the arbitrary detention of eight Guapinol defenders who were released in 2022, after a legal procedure full of human rights violations.
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Communities reclaiming ancestral lands in China Kichá, Salitre, Cabagra, and Térraba
In China Kichá, in the south of Costa Rica, several indigenous communities have been evicted and judicially harassed for trying to recover their ancestral territories, occupied by non-indigenous settlers. Due to the lack of recognition and protection by the Costa Rican State, the indigenous communities are being evicted, have eviction orders pending and face criminal…
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Berta Cáceres Case
Berta Cáceres, an indigenous Lenca leader, was murdered in 2016, as a retaliation for her activism against the installation of the Agua Zarca hydroelectric project. Thanks to her family’s constant efforts, the men responsible for the crime were brought before justice. However, they are still seeking to clarify the responsibility of the family who owns…
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Elmer Campos v Yanacocha
Elmer Campos was shot while participating in a protest against a gold mine in Cajamarca, Peru. There are currently two proceedings still pending: a criminal one against the police agents responsible for his injuries, and another one to hold a private company accountable as a civilly responsible third party. His case is also under review…
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Bernardo Caal Xol Case
Bernardo Caal is a Q’eqchi Mayan community leader, teacher, and defender of land rights and the environment in Guatemala. Bernardo was criminalized for his fight against the construction of a hydroelectric plant on the Cahabón River. After spending four years in prison, Bernardo was released on March 24, 2022.
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Iris Argentina Chávez Case
Land defender Iris Argentina Álvarez Chávez was murdered on April 2, 2020, as a result of a violent and illegal eviction carried out by a private company. Even though two men were indicted a few days later, they have not been convicted.