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Larissa Duerte

Larissa Duarte

HRD, Leader
Movimiento Campesino en Defensa del Río Cobre
Location: 
Red de Derechos Humanos de Panamá Alert
2016

Panama Human Rights Network condemns criminalisation of Larissa Duarte

Larissa Duarte is a peasant leader and environmental defender working to protect the River Cobre region. She is a founding member of Movimiento Campesino en Defensa del Río Cobre (Peasant Movement in Defense of River Cobre), a grassroots movement dedicated, since 2003, to the defense of the water and territory of the community against hydroelectric power plants. The movement is also involved in promoting community-based leadership and political participation and intiatives for sustainable development and environmental conservation in their territory.

In October 2016, Larissa Duarte was sued for 10 million USD by a private company, Hidroeléctricas Los Estrechos S.A., which held her responsible for the costs incurred when their hydroelectric project in Río Cobre was cancelled, allegedly as a result of her activism. In July 2017, the claim was dismissed by the judge due to lack of evidence. However, the defamation efforts against Larissa Duarte and Movimiento Campesino en Defensa del Río Cobre, labelling them as terrorist and criminals, persist.

Panama

Human rights defenders and journalists have been subject to death threats, smear campaigns, police brutality and had their right to freedom of peaceful assembly restricted.

larissa_duarte_armuelles_panama_-_testimony_at_the_2017_dublin_platform

Larissa Duarte Armuelles, Panama - Testimony at the 2017 Dublin Platform