Justice, Peace, Integrity<br /> of Creation
Justice, Peace, Integrity<br /> of Creation
Justice, Peace, Integrity<br /> of Creation
Justice, Peace, Integrity<br /> of Creation
Justice, Peace, Integrity<br /> of Creation

Mining and Human Rights

Newark 01.12.2013 Elizabeth Lanzi Mazzocchini  Translated by: Jpic-jp.org Religious Leaders & Civil Society Gather in Lima. From 1 to 9 November, the capital of Peru was the host city of three international events focusing on the social and environmental impact of mining.

From 1 to 9 November, the capital of Peru was the host city of three international events focusing on the social and environmental impact of ming related conflicts caused by extractive industries on the local and indigenous people’s communities in Central and South America. While these discussions were unfolding in Peru, another two human rights defenders lost their lives in Ecuador and Colombia as a result of violent attacks perpetrated by mining companies and Governments as they sought to represent and defend the desires and rights of their communities.

Thirty religious and lay people traveled from nine countries in Central and South America to meet in Lima on 4 and 5 November and discuss issues impacting the countries and communities they work in, from a human rights based approach. Most of the countries represented are heavily affected by mining operations that are leading to the destruction and loss of vital ecosystems for the local communities and indigenous people’s that have been living on those lands for centuries, as well as displacement, violent persecution and repression of human rights defenders and other human rights violations. Cases from Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala were discussed at the meeting. National non-governmental organizations (NGO) such as the Observatorio de Conflictos Mineros de América Latina (OCMAL), CEHPRODEC from Honduras, and GRUFIDES from Perú were also present as well as the INGOs VIVAT International, Franciscan International and Mercy International all of which have special consultative status at the United Nations where they advocate for the plights of the most vulnerable. The German NGO Misereor, which for many years ha been supporting the work of the Catholic Church in Latin America on mining issues and the coordination work of the congregations for JPIC around the world, was also represented at the meeting.  

The purpose of this first meeting was to bring together lay and religious working in affected areas to share experiences, identify and develop appropriate short and medium term strategies in response – in the light of the Gospel - to the complex reality of large scale mining projects.

The Bishop’s Conference of Brazil (CNBB) participated in this and the following meetings in Lima, represented by Guilherme Werlang, President of the Pontificial Commission for Charity, Justice and Peace of CNBB. One of the main organizers was in fact a network from Brazil, the Rede Justiça nos Trilhos and the Comboni Missionaries from northeastern Brazil who are heavily involved in work to support the local communities affected by the “Programa Grande Carajás” and mining company Vale S.A. in Pará e Maranhão areas. Werlang reiterated the committment of the Catholic Church of Brazil to stand alongside the victims of large scale mining project and highlighted CNBB’s involvement in the Comitê Nacional em Defesa dos Territórios frente à Mineração (National Committee for the Defense of Territories from Mining) which for several months has been discussing the reform of the mining code. At the end of the meeting, participants presented a formal request for support to the bishops of Brazil to organize a broader and more inclusive Latin America meeting in 2014 on “Churches and Mining”.

A Franciscan Minor Friar based in Rome committed to relating the findings of the meeting to the Pontificial Commission for Justice and Peace. Participants hope that Cardinal Turkson will agree to meet some victims of large scale mining projects and help enhance the accompaniment work that religious congregations are already doing at the grassroots level supporting this group of “new poor”.

A second meeting coordinated by Mining Watch, a Canadian NGO, WAS held in the following days and brought together representatives of 25 social movements and NGOs. Participants analyzed detail the main traits and trends of large scale multinational companies, which are at the forefront of the exploration and trade of raw minerals in Central and South America.

Lastly, OCMAL held its 5th biannual meeting on 8 and 9 November in Lima, bringing together 70 participants from 9 countries in Latin America. OCMAL, an international network representing dozens of social movements, organizations and community leaders, counteracting the impact of mining  in their countries. The meeting highlighted among others the importance of giving visibility to the existing conflicts and ensuring the achievement of an international dimension of resistance and defense for the communities and human rights defenders persecuted because of their advocacy work human rights and the free, prior and informed consent of their communities threatened or affected by land grabbing.

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