The report on the impact of Canadian mining in Latin America and Canada’s responsibility is the results of three years of research carried out by six civil society organizations based in Chile, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, Peru and the United States. The report’s conclusions were derived from information supplied by organizations that work directly with communities and persons affected by large scale mining in Latin America and experts from Canadian and USA law schools. Through the study of 22 mining projects carried out by Canadian companies in nine countries in the region, a behavior pattern related to human rights and large scale extractive activities was identified.

On April 3, 2014 the report was officially presented to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). Since then, various meetings with Canadian Embassy representatives in the region have been held.

The report comes at a time of high social conflict related to the extraction of natural resources in the region, in which affected communities continue without adequate responses from their own States. Insufficient –and often time contradictory– regulatory frameworks, States not complying with international obligations and the lack of effective access to justice in the countries where the mining projects take place should be met in Canada (where over 50% of Latin America’s mining investments come from) with appropriate counter balances.

The report identifies Canadian State policies and practices directed at expanding their mining industry without the necessary accompanying measures to effectively prevent and mitigate any negative impact on human rights that might be brought on by these activities. In spite of the magnitude of Canadian international mining investment, there are no adequate mechanisms in place through which victims can access justice in Canada when these kinds of violations take place. It is essential that the important political, economic and diplomatic support extended internationally by the Canadian government to their mining companies be accompanied by certain conditions, such as those promoted by Canadian civil society groups and academics for some years now.

Among the recommendations made by the organizations that participated in the elaboration of this report is one that suggests a redesign of the national and international responsibility mechanisms for corporations. It is crucial that the IACHR incorporate into its analysis of human rights violations the extraterritorial responsibilities of extractive companies’ States of origin.

Hearings before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

149 Period of Sessions – Nov 2013
Hearing: “Human Rights Situation of People Affected by Mining in the Americas and Responsibilities of the Host and Home States of the Mining Companies”
– Press release
– Video
– Pictures

153 Period of Sessions – Nov 2014
Hearing “Impact of Canadian Mining Activities on Human Rights In Latin America”
– Video
– Pictures

Media Coverage

– Canadian mining doing serious environmental harm, the IACHR is told
The Guardian (May 14, 2014)

– Canadá: Una política externa muy tolerante con empresas mineras y poco sensible a los DD.HH.
Servindi / La Mula (April, 21, 2014)

– Miner Opposition: Why Canada’s politics matter in Guatemala’s hills
iPolitics (October 2014)

– Canadá niega su responsabilidad en la actuación de sus mineras en el exterior
El País (October 28, 2014)

– Canada Accused of Failing to Prevent Overseas Mining Abuses
IPS (October 31, 2014)