Communities in southern Argentina are protesting against plans by Pan American Silver to build a large scale open-pit metal mining operation, alleging that the project will pollute the land and destroy the agriculture and livestock of the Mapuche Tehuelche indigenous peoples who live in the area. Research by the EJAtlas group with MiningWatch Canada, Earthworks and the Global Economy Program at the Institute for Policy Studies has also alleged that Pan American Silver demonstrates a systemic lack of respect for communities defending their territories from mining and that environmental pollution and labour conflicts have been documented at several of its projects.

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Pan American Silver to respond; the company's response is below.