Nestor Caicedo
HRD, President
Barranquilla Commune of San Javier
Nestor Caicedo is President of the Barranquilla commune, located in the parish of San Javier de Cachaví, province of Esmeraldas. He is an Afro-descendant leader and human rights and environmental defender who was prosecuted for protesting against the company Energy & Palma. On 8 September 2021, he was sentenced and criminalised along with three companions, in the first instance, to pay 151,000 US dollars to the palm oil company for exercising their right to protest and to defend the environment.
Human rights defenders have been victims of a wide range of violations in Ecuador, such as police brutality, judicial harassment, arbitrary detentions, smear campaigns, threats, harassment and the oppression of indigenous and campesino communities.
