At the end of September, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, David Boyd, issued a report calling on the Colombian government to implement the directives of its own Constitutional Court and to do more to protect the very vulnerable Wayúu community on the Provincial indigenous reserve against pollution from the huge El Cerrejón mine (owned by London-listed mining multinationals Anglo American, BHP and Glencore) and from COVID-19. He said that at least during the pandemic, operations at the Tajo Patilla site close to the Provincial reserve should be suspended until it can be shown to be safe. His call was supported by a number of other UN Special Rapporteurs.
Colombia Solidarity Campaign signed an open letter of support to the UN Special Rapporteurs. David Boyd’s important report has brought great encouragement to our friends in Colombia and we urge governments and companies to do what he recommends.
