Collective Letters

On 9 December, 2013, ESCR-Net sent a letter to the Government of Paraguay to express the Network's collective support for the prompt implementation of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ legally-binding decision on the case the Sawhoyamaxa Indigenous Community v. Paraguay (March 29, 2006), requiring the restitution of the Sawhoyamaxa’s original lands.          

On January 25, 2013, ESCR-Net sent an urgent appeal to the Government of India, the POSCO corporation and the Government of Korea to express serious converns about plans by the Indian authorities to proceed with the forced eviction in Jagatsinghpur District, Odisha to facilitate the construction of the POSCO steel plant, as well as imminent threats against human rights defenders in the area who have mobilized to protect their lands.

On September 9, 2012, ESCR Net transmitted a communication to the President of Mexico, Felipe Calderon, and Peter Crossgrove, Chairman of the Board of Excellon Resources, Inc. to express concerns about the use of force to disband of Ejido members assembling peacefully to protest the mine operation, the reported refusal of Excellon Mexico to participate in negotiations with the La Sierrita Ejido, alleged lack of compliance by Excellon with several previous agreements made with La Sierrita in 2008, and reported intimidation of people calling for dialogue.

On July 11, 2012, ESCR-Net transmitted a communication to the Government of Peru to request urgent action to protect the human rights of people protesting the Conga gold mine after five people lost their lives in the week of July 3.

On April 27, 20120 ESCR-Net sent a letter to the Government of Pakistan to express regarding the imminent forcible eviction of 65 families, some 450 people, living on the sidelines of Shahpur dam, Attock district, Province of Punjab, and warned that the forcible displacement of the fisher folk families poses grave threats to their ability to realize their human right to water, health, adequate housing and an adequate standard of living, among a range of human rights.

On 26 March, 2012, ESCR-Net sent a letter to the Government of Pakistan to express concern regarding the ongoing acts of violence and threats against leaders of ESCR-Net member, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), including the recent raid of the home of the Chairman of the PFF, the abduction of several PFF leaders last July, the assassination of two PFF leaders in May and the ongoing threats and harassment against leaders of the PFF and the filing of baseless criminal charges (FIRs) against PFF leaders and members in recent months.

Between May 24 and August 4, ESCR-Net and Canadian-based Excellon Resources, Mexico exchanged communications regarding allegations of violations of the freedom of association for workers, non-compliance with health and safety standards and related concerns involving the company's operations in the La Sierrita mine in Mexico. To see a more detailed summary of the communications or to view the letters that were transmitted click here.

On August 4th, 2011, the ESCR-Net Secretariat reiterated its concerns of threats to and harassment of workers by Excellon authorities regarding the workers' right to unionize in the La Platosa mine in Durango, Mexico. ESCR-Net urged Excellon representatives to respect the workers' right to join...