Demandas presentadas por empresas mineras contra países de América Latina

The report examines 38 cases of international arbitration brought by mining companies against Latin American states, highlighting a pattern where corporate legal protections are used to bypass national courts and penalize governments for implementing public health, environmental, or indigenous rights policies. It identifies Canada as a primary source of mining investment and litigation in the region and argues that the current ISDS framework creates a 'chilling effect' on democratic regulation. The document details specific cases in countries such as El Salvador, Colombia, and Venezuela, and proposes a shift toward a legal framework that prioritizes human rights and environmental protection over investor profits.

• Transnational mining companies frequently use Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms to seek compensation for government policies, court rulings, or public measures that they claim reduce the value of their investments.
• Canadian companies are disproportionately represented in these legal actions, reflecting Canada's role as a major global hub for mining finance, with an estimated 60% of the world's mining companies listed on Canadian stock exchanges.
• A significant portion of the companies filing these lawsuits are 'junior' exploration firms that do not actually operate any mines, yet they use arbitration to seek millions or billions of dollars in damages.
• The report identifies a 'chilling effect' where the threat of massive arbitration awards discourages governments from enacting responsible public policies or implementing human rights recommendations.
• In El Salvador, a long legal battle involving Pacific Rim Mining and Commerce Group delayed the national ban on metallic mining for seven years, though the country eventually passed the 'Ley de Prohibición de la Minería Metálica' in March 2017 after winning its cases.
• Colombia faces an immense financial risk from mining arbitration, with approximately $18 billion in claims or threats, some linked to the protection of 'páramos' (high-altitude ecosystems) and indigenous territories.
• Venezuela is the most frequently targeted country for mining litigation, with awards against the state for companies like Crystallex ($1.202 billion) and Gold Reserve ($713 million) often stemming from the nationalization of projects.
• The report argues that the current international investment framework is asymmetrical, allowing corporations to bypass national courts and sue sovereign states in private tribunals, while communities have no comparable international legal recourse for human rights or environmental violations.
• The 'Full Protection and Security' standard is criticized for potentially forcing states to use their own security forces to protect foreign investments against local community protests.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). Demandas presentadas por empresas mineras contra países de América Latina. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/CIEL-Casino-del-Extractivismo.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Demandas presentadas por empresas mineras contra países de América Latina. n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/CIEL-Casino-del-Extractivismo.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Demandas presentadas por empresas mineras contra países de América Latina |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/CIEL-Casino-del-Extractivismo.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawnddemandas, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Demandas presentadas por empresas mineras contra países de América Latina}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/CIEL-Casino-del-Extractivismo.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }