http://www.amnesty.ca/blog/index.php?PostID=338
Victory for Ecuadorian Indigenous peoples in struggle over oil development
Posted by: Craig Benjamin
27 July 2012 10:15 am
"The Sarayaku are extremely satisfied with this victory, reached thanks to the efforts of our people and the help and solidarity of organizations devoted to the rights of Indigenous Peoples" - Sarayaku leader José Gualinga.
A regional court has ruled that the government of Ecuador violated the human rights of the Indigenous Sarayaku people by allowing oil development on their land without a rigourous prior consultation process.
According to media reports, the government of Ecuador has publicly committed to comply with this ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
This important victory comes after more than ten years of struggle by the Sarayaku people. It comes at a key moment when Indigenous peoples throughout the Americas are being denied the right to have their voice heard in decisions over large-scale resource development projects with the potential to threaten their very survival.
Photo: Sarayaku President José Gualinga speaks before the Inter-American Court. © Inter-American Court of Human Rights
