Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition protective measure (re Loma Larga gold mine, Ecuador)
Quellen
Snapshot: In February 2022, the Federation of Campesino, Indigenous Organizations of Auay and the Community Water Systems of Tarqui, Victoria del Portete, and Girón filed for Protective Measures against the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition with the Ecuadorian Court of Justice of Azuay concerning the Loma Larga copper-gold-silver mining project, arguing the lack of consultation with affected communities and potential violations of their right to water. In July 2022, a judge granted the measures, suspending all mining activities in the Kimsakocha páramos and ordered the Ministry to comply with these suspension measures until prior consultation with the communities has been carried out. The then-President Guillermo Lasso and the mining company appealed.
On 28 August 2023, the Provincial Court of Azuay partially upheld the ruling, concluding that the communities' right to free, prior and informed consultation had been violated.
On 7 February 2024, Ecuador's Constitutional rejected the Extraordinary Action for Protection No. 2785-23-EP filed by the Presidency of Ecuador and the Ministry of the Environment against the 28 August 2023 decision. This therefore confirms the need for prior consultation, environmental assessment, and community approval for mining activities to take place in the Kimsakocha páramos. The case is closed.
Due to the alleged lack of enforcement of the ruling in Ecuador, and attempts to continue mining in Kimsakocha, the organisations declared that they will file an action before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR).