Restore Health in Cerro de Pasco

A defining moment for the global struggle for environmental justice.

On Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., the city of Cerro de Pasco took an unprecedented step: it formally filed a lawsuit before the Supreme Court of Peru against the mining company Volcan S.A. and its subsidiaries for human rights violations.
For the first time in history, an entire city has brought legal action against a corporation.

The lawsuit was jointly signed by the Mayor of Cerro de Pasco and the Provincial Prosecutor. It was prepared by legal counsel from EarthRights International, and is grounded in years of rigorous scientific investigation conducted by Source International. This case sets a historic precedent and establishes a powerful reference for cities around the world seeking justice against corporate abuse.

The legal team, together with our director Flaviano Bianchini, personally submitted the case files to the Supreme Court offices in Lima. The documentation—1,280 pages of scientific evidence—represents years of research, monitoring, and testimony. Following the filing, the delegation joined the Mayor and youth representatives of Cerro de Pasco for a press conference that received wide coverage from major Peruvian and international media.

The message was clear and unwavering: Cerro de Pasco demands justice.

Justice for decades of extreme pollution.
Justice for those who lost their lives due to heavy metals accumulated in their bodies.
Justice for children suffering neurological damage caused by lead exposure.
Justice for families forced to leave their homes to protect their health.
Justice for lakes turned into dumping sites and rivers reduced to sewage channels.

In many ways, May 28 marked the culmination of a journey that began 18 years ago, even before Source International was founded, when our founder Flaviano Bianchini travelled to Cerro de Pasco for the first time, living in the city for four months. Since then, this case has remained at the heart of our work, and achieving justice for Cerro de Pasco has always been a central mission.

Yet this is not the end; it is just a transformation. We are now entering a second phase. The lawsuit has been filed, and the legal battle begins. It will be long and challenging, but we are committed to seeing it through. We will continue to stand on the right side of history: alongside the people of Cerro de Pasco and against corporate abuse.

Thank you for standing with us. Keep supporting this fight for justice.