Community of La Oroya vs. Peru

Nature of the Case

The ruling holds the Peruvian State responsible for violating the rights of people affected by decades of toxic pollution by La Oroya Metallurgical Complex, particularly the right to a healthy environment and other connected rights such as to life and integrity recognized in the American Convention on Human Rights. The court ordered the adoption of comprehensive reparations that include environmental remediation, reduction and mitigation of polluting emissions, air quality monitoring, free and specialized medical care, compensation and a relocation plan for affected people.

Enforcement of the Decision and Outcomes

The implementation of this decision is still ongoing, and this section will be revised as developments occur.

Significance of the Case

Liliana Ávila, coordinator of the AIDA Human Rights and Environment Program, stated “This ruling is a very important advance and a key precedent for environmental justice in Latin America as it is the first case in which the Court recognizes the responsibility of a State for the violation of the right to a healthy environment in a urban context and the implications that this has on the guarantee of other multiple rights.”

For their contributions, special thanks to ESCR-Net member: the Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy (PHRGE) at Northeastern University.