abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb

Cette page n’est pas disponible en Français et est affichée en English

Article

8 Aoû 2022

Auteur:
Emily Gray,
Auteur:
Fidanka Bacheva-McGrath,
Auteur:
Nina Lesikhina, CEE Bankwatch Network

Armenia: NGOs reports show govt. & investors failed to prevent human rights abuses at Amulsar gold mine

Amulsar’s costs to human rights and threats to environmental defenders, 4 August 2022

The Amulsar gold mine in Armenia was supposed to be a different kind of mine, a better one. It even received a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to help it meet the highest environmental and social standards in mine construction and operation.

But for years, Armenian activists, Bankwatch and other international organisations have shown that this effort has failed. The mine is a risk to water, nature, health – all of which should be protected under Armenian and international law. The local tourism industry and people’s livelihoods felt the negative impacts as soon as mine construction started in 2016.

Furthermore, local activists have been punished for speaking out against the project, denied the right to peaceful assembly and association, freedom of expression, access to information, and access to justice. Amulsar has also proved ripe for corruption...

Now, a new report from FIDH, CSI Armenia and Bankwatch exposes the full extent of the failure of the Armenian government; the company responsible for the project, Lydian; and current and former investors like the EBRD and the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) to protect, respect and fulfil human rights and remedy the negative impacts of projects.

A second report from the Coalition for Human Rights in Development also highlights the failure of the development banks to prevent retaliation against those who have spoken out against the risks and actual harms caused by the Amulsar project.

Speaking truth to power in Armenia comes at a price. An unprecedented number of SLAPPs, strategic litigation against public participation, were initiated against independent experts, lawyers and journalists that opposed the project...

...[I]n 2022, Lydian Armenia applied for a new water use permit. Right after, the government of Armenia amended the country’s Mining Code to make it easier to bypass public opposition, despite a joint statement against this from 44 non-governmental organisations. A supplementary regulation allows mining to proceed even in cases where civil protests against the mining occur, which seems to be a clear response to the challenges the Amulsar gold mine project has faced.

It’s just a matter of time before the issue of Amulsar is back on the doorsteps of nearby residents...

The government should revoke all existing permits for the Amulsar gold mine project; initiate an independent expert assessment of the costs and benefits of the mine; ensure proper remedy for the negative impacts caused by the mine to local communities, human rights defenders and the environment; and conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the corruption surrounding the land acquisition in Gndevaz.

The EBRD and the IFC should support the Armenian government in implementing these steps. They should also develop human rights and environmental due diligence policies in order to better comply with the UN’s guiding principles, including meaningful public participation.

BHRRC has previously invited Lydian International to comment on human rights concerns linked to the Amulsar gold mine, further information is available here.

Chronologie

Informations sur la confidentialité

Ce site utilise des cookies et d'autres technologies de stockage web. Vous pouvez définir vos choix en matière de confidentialité ci-dessous. Les changements prendront effet immédiatement.

Pour plus d'informations sur notre utilisation du stockage web, veuillez vous référer à notre Politique en matière d'utilisation des données et de cookies

Strictly necessary storage

ON
OFF

Necessary storage enables core site functionality. This site cannot function without it, so it can only be disabled by changing settings in your browser.

Cookie analytique

ON
OFF

Lorsque vous accédez à notre site Web, nous utilisons Google Analytics pour collecter des informations sur votre visite. Autoriser ce cookie nous permettra de comprendre en plus de détails sur votre parcours et d'améliorer la façon dont nous diffusons les informations. Toutes les informations analytiques sont anonymes et nous ne les utilisons pas pour vous identifier. Outre la possibilité que vous avez de refuser des cookies, vous pouvez installer le module pour la désactivation de Google Analytics.

Cookies promotionels

ON
OFF

Nous partageons des nouvelles et des mises à jour sur les entreprises et les droits de l'homme via des plateformes tierces, y compris les médias sociaux et les moteurs de recherche. Ces cookies nous aident à comprendre les performances de ces items.

Vos choix en matière de confidentialité pour ce site

Ce site utilise des cookies et d'autres technologies de stockage web pour améliorer votre expérience au-delà des fonctionnalités de base nécessaires.