By Maria Jose Veramendi Villa | Attorney, Human Rights and Environment Program
Even as the turbines of the Belo Monte Dam have begun turning, the fight for justice continues. The ongoing operation of the world’s third largest dam—corrupt and careless as it is—cannot stop us.
In fact, each new allegation of corruption and abuse only fuels our desire for justice for those who have been affected by the dam.
And our most important battle is now strongly underway: our case before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which opened for processing at the close of last year.
In it, we’re working to hold Brazil accountable for the countless human rights violations that have been committed in the name of the Belo Monte dam: the absence of consultation with and free, prior and informed consent of indigenous communities; the lack of adequate assessment of environmental and social impacts; forced displacement; and severe violations to the rights of indigenous peoples, riverine communities and residents of Altamira.
We’re in the process of getting the case admitted before the Commission, so they can establish—as an independent, international body—if these violations occurred and whether the State must respond for them.
As part of the process, Brazil had to respond to our allegations before the Commission. We received their response on August 9 and are now working to counter their claims.
Our legal submission is due on October 10, and until then we’re working night and day to effectively convey the importance of the Commission investigating the human rights abuses that have been suffered due to Belo Monte.
You support will help us to keep writing, and keep defending the people of the Xingu River basin.
The State and dam operators continue to blatantly disregard the human rights of those living in the dam’s shadow.
On September 1, the dam’s operating license was suspended yet again because sanitation systems in the city of Altamira—a legal obligation operators were required to meet long ago—were never installed.
Wastewater floods the streets of Altamira, and threatens to turn Belo Monte’s reservoir into a stagnant pool of sewage.
Unfortunately, as with many legal decisions attempting to protect the rights of those affected, the suspension was overturned a few weeks later.
It’s clear the forces behind Belo Monte have no respect for the environment in which they’re working, and even less for the local people who depend upon the river and forests for their survival.
Many of the people we represent live in the neighborhoods of Altamira, and are exposed to raw sewage. Those who live outside the city have been displaced from their land, cut off from their primary water source, or have had their way of life destroyed.
Together we can ensure the Brazilian State is held accountable for the immense environmental and social damage the dam has caused.
Thank you for not giving up on this fight.
Rest assured, we won’t stop until we achieve justice for the people of the Xingu.
By Rodrigo da Costa Sales | AIDA attorney
By Maria Jose Vermendi Villa | Attorney, Human Rights & Environment Program
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
