International Rights of Nature Tribunal
Lima, Peru – December 2014
The second International Rights of Nature Tribunal convened December 5-6, 2014 in Lima, Peru. For two full days a panel of 13 distinguished judges heard twelve prominent cases while on the other side of the city the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UN FCCC COP 20) deliberated. The Tribunal heard evidence from experts and witnesses who are impacted by gross violations to the Rights of Mother Earth and Nature, human rights and rights of indigenous communities.
The Tribunal proceedings were intense and deeply moving as witness after witness gave intimate testimony reinforced by scientific evidence of experts. Selected cases addressed the impacts of Climate Change, destructive oil and mineral extraction, and aggressive actions against Defenders of the Earth especially in South America. The ruthlessness of actions being taken around the world against Defenders of the Earth was brought home to this Tribunal by the death of José Isidro Tendetza Antun, Shuar leader from the Condor Mine region of Ecuador, only days before the Tribunal commenced. The Tribunal was dedicated to José Tendetza’s honor.
Casey Camp-Horinek, Ponca Nation, USA and Patricia Gualinga, Sarayaku, Ecuador opened the session sharing about Indigenous cosmovision to lay the foundation for understanding Mother Earth and living in harmony with nature.
Información sobre el Tribunal en español
A summary of the objectives and outcomes of Tribunal was presented in a Press Conference at the UN FCCC on December 8. To view a view of the Press Conference visit UNFCCC Rights of Nature P