Joint Statement: Solidarity and international support to the communities of Las Naves, San Luis de Pambil and Zapotal, and the CEDHU

We, the 47 undersigned national and international organisations, extend our solidarity and unconditional support to the rural communities of Las Naves, San Luis de Pambil and Zapotal, in the province of Bolívar, Ecuador, who are defending their territories, water, food sovereignty and livelihoods against the impacts of mining activities. We also extend our solidarity to the Ecumenical Commission for Human Rights (CEDHU) and to all the organisations and individuals in Ecuador who provide legal and communications support to ensure the continuation of efforts to defend human rights and protect the environment.

Against a backdrop of regressive legislations undermining human rights, restrictions on participation and access to justice, it is vital to recognise that without technical and legal support, communities’ capacity to react effectively to threats is reduced and weakened. The work of documenting abuses, providing legal advice and raising awareness about conflicts is not merely a service; it is a legitimate exercise in the defence of human rights, protected under key international instruments:

The UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998), Article 1 recognises the right of every individual and organisation to “promote and seek the protection and realisation of human rights”, thereby protecting both those engaged in such defence and those who assist them.

The Reports and Guidelines of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), emphasise the State’s obligation to protect environmental defenders and those who provide them with legal assistance, recognising that the criminalisation of this work constitutes a violation of the rights to freedom of expression and association.

The Escazú Agreement, guarantees to communities the right to access justice in environmental matters and the State’s obligation to protect environmental defenders.

We, the undersigned organisations, reaffirm that the legal and political support provided by CEDHU and other networks is essential for balancing power relations and ensuring state liability. We recognise that this work must not become a target for stigmatisation or persecution. Defending rights, providing legal advice to victims and demanding environmental safeguards are legitimate acts that deserve protection, not reprisals.

Peasant communities are not only defending the land; they are preserving their water sources, their food, their livelihoods and their right to make decisions about their territories. The work of the organisations supporting them ensures that these rights are recognised within national and international case law. No mining activities or other extractive project can take precedence over life or over the legal mechanisms designed to protect it.

For all the above reasons, we collectively sign this statement to:

• Assert the legitimacy of the work to defend human rights by rural communities and of the support carried out by social organisations.
• Declare our organisations’ support for the legitimate defence of human rights in the context of the action for protection in the Las Naves case.
• Call upon the authorities in Ecuador to end all harassment of communities and organisations supporting this case.
• Call upon the Constitutional Court of Ecuador to address the challenges related to the unconstitutionality of the Social Transparency Act and its Regulations, which ultimately limit the enjoyment of fundamental rights and contravene international human rights standards.

We, the undersigned organisations, reaffirm that it is the duty of States to uphold human rights, protect lands and safeguard those who defend them. We will remain vigilant against any measures that may limit or restrict the exercise of human rights and environmental protection in Ecuador.

The Organisations:

1. Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS) - Argentina
2. FOCO INPADE - Argentina
3. Programa Somos Defensores -Colombia
4. Asociación de Abogadas, Abogados, Jueces y Fiscales de América Latina y el Caribe (AJUDIFH) - 22 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean
5. CIVICUS, Alianza Global para la Participación Ciudadana - South Africa
6. Fundación Regional de Asesoría en Derechos Humanos INREDH - Ecuador
7. Red Nacional de Organismos Civiles de Derechos Humanos "Todos los Derechos para Todas, Todos y Todes" (Red TDT) - Mexico
8. Centro de Investigación y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos CIPRODEH - Honduras 
9. Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos -APRODEH - Peru
10. Red Muqui - Peru
11. Mujeres por el Cambio  - Ecuador
12. Liga Argentina por los Derechos Humanos - Argentina 
13. Centro de Políticas Públicas y Derechos Humanos (Perú EQUIDAD) - Peru
14. coordinadora de derechos humanos del Paraguay - Codehupy - Paraguay
15. Observatorio Latinoamericano de Conflictos Ambientales - OLCA - Chile
16. Coordinadora Ecuatoriana de Organizaciones para la Defensa de la Naturaleza y el Medio Ambiente CEDENMA - Ecuador
17. FEPP - Ecuador 
18. FIAN Alemania e.V - Germany
19. WRM - World Rainforest Movement - Uruguay
20. Fundación Libera Contra la Trata de Personas y la Esclavitud en Todas sus Formas - Chile
21. CooperAcción- Perú - Peru
22. ONG Sustentarse - Chile
23. COMUNÁLISIS- Ecuador
24. Proyecto sobre Organización, Desarrollo, Educación e Investigación (PODER) - Mexico
25. Espacio de Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil para la Protección de Personas Defensoras de Derechos Humanos y Periodistas (Espacio OSC). - Mexico
26. Grupo Rescate Escolar (GRE) - Ecuador
27. Colectivo Mujeres de Asfalto  - Ecuador 
28. Miradas Negras - Ecuador 
29. Amandla medio - Ecuador 
30. Red de Mujeres Rurales y Diversas del Ecuador - TEJER - Ecuador
31. Fundación de Asesoría en Derechos Humanos - INREDH - Ecuador
32. Amazon Frontlines - San Francisco
33. Colectivo  Ansur-Colombia
34. Colectivo Acción Ecológica - Ecuador
35. Quito Sin Minería - Ecuador
36. Liga Mexicana por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, Limeddh - Mexico
37. Fundación DEFENSA NNA - Ecuador 
38. Front Line Defenders - Ireland
39. LAWG
40. Colectivo de Abogados y Abogadas José Alvear Restrepo - Colombia
41. Comité Permanente por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos 
42. Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (FARN)  - Argentina
43. Observatorio para la Defensa de los Derechos y las Libertades (OTEANDO) - Spain
44. Coordinación contra la precariedad, el empobrecimiento y la exclusión-BALADRE  - Spain
45. Erletxea - Basque Country

46. Colectivo sobre Financiamiento e Inversiones Chinas, Derechos Humanos y Ambiente (CICDHA)

47. Fundación Celid Plural