“Victory for NGO as arbitrary decision to force its closure is reversed” – 1 December 2017

The Ecuadorian NGO ‘Fundación Pachamama’ has had its legal identity reinstated, four years after an Executive Decree led to the denial of its right to operate. This is a major victory for defenders of the environment and rights of indigenous peoples, and a significant rebuttal to restrictions to the work of civil society experienced globally…With the reinstatement of Fundación Pachamama, a four-year injustice has finally been righted. Following years of lobbying by members of the organisation, the Ministry of the Environment finally announced that the decision to close the Foundation’s offices and dissolve their legal status had been reversed…With this victory under their belt, the Fundación is calling for legislative changes to guarantee the rights of human rights defenders...