ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS IN DANGER: THE SITUATION IN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICAN IN THE CONTEXT OF INDUSTRIAL MINING

The report documents a growing trend of repression and violence against environmental defenders in Mexico and Central America, linked to the expansion of industrial mining. It argues that this violence stems from state failure to manage environmental impacts and a lack of protection for human rights defenders, often characterized by high levels of impunity in both host and home countries of mining companies.

• Industrial mining in Mexico and Central America poses significant environmental risks, such as the contamination of soil, air, and water, as well as social risks including forced displacement, violence, and government corruption.
• Environmental defenders who oppose mining projects face severe personal risks and human rights violations, including kidnapping, arbitrary detention, death threats, and assassination, often with the tacit acceptance of the state.
• The violence against defenders is driven by two primary state failures: the inability to properly manage the environmental impacts of mining projects and the failure to protect the human rights of defenders in accordance with international obligations.
• Impunity for human rights violations is a systemic issue involving both host countries and the home countries of mining companies, specifically citing Canada and the United States for failing to regulate their companies' overseas operations.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2010). ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS IN DANGER: THE SITUATION IN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICAN IN THE CONTEXT OF INDUSTRIAL MINING. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IACHR_Exec-Summary_Oct10.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS IN DANGER: THE SITUATION IN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICAN IN THE CONTEXT OF INDUSTRIAL MINING. 2010. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IACHR_Exec-Summary_Oct10.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS IN DANGER: THE SITUATION IN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICAN IN THE CONTEXT OF INDUSTRIAL MINING |date=October 2010 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IACHR_Exec-Summary_Oct10.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2010environmental, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS IN DANGER: THE SITUATION IN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICAN IN THE CONTEXT OF INDUSTRIAL MINING}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2010}, month = oct, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IACHR_Exec-Summary_Oct10.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }