Colombia - December 2024

In a landmark ruling, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (CIDH) determined that Colombia failed to protect the U’wa indigenous people by allowing petroleum, mining, and tourism enterprises to operate on their land without prior consultation. This violated their fundamental rights, including the right to collective property, a healthy environment, and self-determination. The ruling, based on a case filed nearly 30 years ago, orders the state to take immediate action to restore the U’wa’s collective property, secure their land titles, and mitigate the environmental damage caused by activities like petroleum extraction. Additionally, the ruling requires the state to ensure the U’wa’s participation in any ongoing extractive projects, guaranteeing that these projects do not harm their cultural rights. Experts have described this decision as a historic victory for the U’wa against both the Colombian state and multinational corporations, setting an important precedent for indigenous rights cases across the country.

Sources: El Pais, Amazon Watch, El Espectador, Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos