Glasgow Human Rights Network

Friday 19 June 1-3 pm, Forehall

Main Building, University of Glasgow

Please register on EventBrite.

**********************************************************************

Glasgow Human Rights Network and Glasgow Latin American Research Network, in conjunction with SCIAF, invite you to attend an open meeting with Colombian environmental lawyer, Ximena Gonzalez, from Tierra Digna, Colombia. Ximena will share Tierra Digna’s latest reports on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (Ruggie Principles) in Colombia, and the impacts of business on some of Colombia’s most vulnerable groups. She will use 3 case studies to explore these impacts:

- COCOMOPOCA, and Afro-Colombian community organisation affected by Gold mining in the Chocó department.

- The Colosa mine, an opencast goldmine operated by AngloGold Ashanti in Tolima

- The community of Boquerón in Cesar, affected by large scale coalmining

Background info:

Tierra Digna is a Colombian collective of lawyers specialised in the protection of human rights of rural communities which are negatively affected by economic activities of (multinational) corporations, in particular in the extractive industries. The NGO provides research, legal support and training for communities to ensure their access to justice. Tierra Digna’s lawyers bring cases mainly on a national level, but they have also contributed to discussions in the Inter-American System, including presenting thematic reports. Current cases are related to energy production, the right to water, exploitation of natural resources, defence of artisanal fishery, rainforest protection and biodiversity. Tierra Digna work in partnership with SCIAF. www.tierradigna.org

Ximena González, is an environmental lawyer and founding member of the Colombian NGO Tierra Digna, where she is responsible for land rights issues related to mining and large-scale extractive projects. She has worked with victims of human rights violations for the last eight years and recently won a landmark judicial case on ‘Strategic Mining Areas’ in Colombia. She is currently leading an initiative which aims to ensure the Colombian government takes action to resolve the environmental and health crises of the Atrato River in Chocó, Colombia, which has been heavily impacted by mining and deforestation and is affecting riverine communities.  She will be in the UK from 19 - 29 June to discuss the Court decision and the work of Tierra Digna.

SCIAF is the official aid and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland, working in over 16 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America to support some of the world's poorest people.  www.sciaf.org.uk

---

First published: 10 June 2015