In June 2010, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People, James Anaya, visited Guatemala at the invitation of the government after the Special Rapporteur delivered a series of allegations of human rights violations relating to the Marlin Mine. During the visit, the Special Rapporteur metContinue reading “2011 Country visit by the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People”
Subsoil Violated Right Archives
2012 Peoples’ International Health Tribunal Hearing on Goldcorp’s Mining Operations in Central America [Guatemala/Marlin]
In July 2012 the Peoples’ International Health Tribunal held a hearing regarding three of Goldcorp’s mining operations in Latin America, including the Marlin mine project in San Miguel Ixtahuacán and Sipacapa, San Marcos, Guatemala. Testimony was heard from health, environmental, and human rights experts, and members of communities directly affected by the mining operations. The Tribunal “delivered a guiltyContinue reading “2012 Peoples’ International Health Tribunal Hearing on Goldcorp’s Mining Operations in Central America [Guatemala/Marlin]”
2010 Legal Actions against Montana Exploradora regarding Water Discharge from Marlin Mine
In September 2010, the Minister of the Environment, Luis Ferraté, filed a criminal complaint with the Office of the Public Prosecutor against Montana Exploradora de Guatemala, S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of Goldcorp Inc., to investigate the discharge of residual waters from the Marlin Mine tailing dams because they may have contaminated the Quivichil river,Continue reading “2010 Legal Actions against Montana Exploradora regarding Water Discharge from Marlin Mine”
2012 Criminal Complaint against Marlin Mine filed by 100 Communities in San Marcos
In December 2012, leaders and representatives from approximately 100 communities in San Marcos filed a criminal complaint against the Marlin Mine project for unlawful appropriation of water, unlawful appropriation of property, industrial contamination, spreading of disease among plants and animals, intentionally falsifying and misrepresenting public documents (falsedad material y falsedad ideológica), and illegal exploitation ofContinue reading “2012 Criminal Complaint against Marlin Mine filed by 100 Communities in San Marcos”
2009-2011 Complaint to Canadian National Contact Point for the OECD
In December 2009, the Front in Defense of San Miguel Ixtahuacán (FREDEMI), assisted by the Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL), filed a request for review with the Canadian National Contact Point (NCP), alleging that Goldcorp Inc. had breached the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises in its operation ofContinue reading “2009-2011 Complaint to Canadian National Contact Point for the OECD”
2013 Petition to IACHR filed by Council of Mayan and Xinka Peoples [Marlin]
In September 2013, the Council of Mayan and Xinka Peoples filed a petition against Guatemala before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) for systemic violation of the collective rights of indigenous peoples in Guatemala. This petition was filed in response to the 2013 Constitutional Court ruling dismissing a constitutional challenge (amparo) brought by Guatemala’s Western Peoples’ CouncilContinue reading “2013 Petition to IACHR filed by Council of Mayan and Xinka Peoples [Marlin]”
2008-2013 Constitutional Challenges against Guatemalan Mining Laws [Marlin]
On 19 June 2008, the Constitutional Court of Guatemala declared seven provisions of the 1997 Mining Law unconstitutional based on a failure to comply with Guatemala’s environmental laws. In particular, the court agreed with the Centre for Environmental and Socio-Legal Action (CALAS) that the following aspects of the Mining Law breached the state’s obligation toContinue reading “2008-2013 Constitutional Challenges against Guatemalan Mining Laws [Marlin]”
2018 UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders visit to Honduras
In April and May 2018, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders carried out a fact-finding country visit to Honduras. His preliminary report issued at the end of the visit, highlighted the threats faced by human rights activists, particularly environmental defenders, arising from their legitimate social demands. The rapporteur also identifiedContinue reading “2018 UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders visit to Honduras”
2014-2019 Canadian Lawsuit against Tahoe Resources
In June 2014, seven plaintiffs commenced a civil lawsuit in British Columbia, Canada against Tahoe Resources Inc. for injuries arising from the alleged conduct of private security personnel employed at Escobal mine. In particular, on 27 April 2013, a protest was held outside the gates of Escobal. The plaintiffs “allege[d] that security guards opened theContinue reading “2014-2019 Canadian Lawsuit against Tahoe Resources”
2014 Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal hearing on Canadian mining in Latin America
In December 2014, the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal released its verdict on hearings held over four days in May/June 2014 into Canadian mining in Latin America. With respect to the Escobal mine, the Tribunal found that Tahoe Resources Inc. and its subsidiary, Minera San Rafael, violated the rights of communities affected by the mine in SantaContinue reading “2014 Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal hearing on Canadian mining in Latin America”
