Protestors carrying a banner reading "Sarayaku Resiste"

On July 25, 2012 The Inter-American Court on Human Rights (IACHR) announced the verdict of the trial that the Kichwa People of Sarayaku (Ecuadorian Amazon) pursued since 2003 against the Ecuadorian State. Please refer to the following correspondance regarding this important judgment on the right to free, prior and informed consent.

doCip has the pleasure to forward you the following information, transmitted by Corinne Arnould, Paroles de Nature.

On July 25, 2012 The Inter-American Court on Human Rights (IACHR) has announced the verdict of the trial that the Kichwa People of Sarayaku (Ecuadorian Amazon) pursued since 2003 against the Ecuadorian State. The latter had allowed a foreign oil company to encroach on the traditional lands of the community without previous consultation. By unanimity, the IACHR found Ecuador guilty of breaching the right of the Kichwa people of Sarayaku to prior consultation, to communal property and to cultural identity, but also, to their right to life and physical integrity, as well as to their right to a fair trial and to judicial protection. Ecuador must, notably, adopt measures to stop the infringement, consult with Kichwa people and pay significant damages. The verdicts of the IACHR generally act as jurisprudence at the regional level.

You will find the text of the verdict at the following : link (in Spanish only), as well as the declaration of the Sarayaku people (in Spanish) on their website.

Amnesty International has also published detailed information on this decision at the following link.