2010 Inter-American Commission on Human Rights hearing on the Situation of Environmentalists in Mesoamerica
In October 2010, the International Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) held a hearing, entitled the “Situation of Environmentalists in Mesoamerica”, as part of its 140th Regular Period of Sessions. From El Salvador, the participants included the National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining in El Salvador (Mesa Nacional) and the Commitee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES). The purpose of this session was to discuss the challenges faced by human rights and environmental defenders in their work. A video and audio recording of the hearing is available in the hearing citation.
In June 2011, the IACHR issued a press release condemning the murder of a human rights defender in El Salvador. The victim, Juan Francisco Durán Ayala, was an activist with the Cabañas Environmental Committee for the Defense of Water and Natural Resources (CAC), which defends the environment from the impact of mining activities of El Dorado” (IACHR, 2011). In its press release, the Commission referenced information received during the above hearing regarding similar murders that occured in 2009. It urged El Salvador “to immediately and urgently adopt all necessary measures to guarantee the right to life, integrity, and security of environmentalists in the country” (Ibid).
Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Environmental Defenders describe human rights abuses linked with the mining industry at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, online: http://www.ciel.org/news/environmental-defenders-describe-human-rights-abuses-linked-with-the-mining-industry-at-the-inter-american-commission-on-human-rights/, accessed23 November 2021.
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), “Situation of Environmentalists in Mesoamerica” (140 Regular Period of Sessions), dated 25 October 2010, online: http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/audiencias/Hearings.aspx?Lang=En&Session=120, accessed 23 November 2021.
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), “IACHR Concludes its 140th Period of Sessions” (Press Release, No. 109/10), online: http://www.cidh.oas.org/Comunicados/English/2010/109-10eng.htm, accessed 23 November 2021.
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), “IACHR Condemns Murder of Human Rights Defender in El Salvador” (Press Release), dated 24 June 2011, online: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/preleases/2011/062.asp, accessed 23 November 2021.
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), “Annunal Report of the Inter-American Report on Human Rights 2010”, OEA/Ser.L/V/II, Doc. 5, rev. 1, dated 7 March 2011, online: http://www.cidh.org/pdf%20files/IACHR-ANNUAL-REPORT-2010.pdf, accessed 23 November 2021.
