Justice and Human Rights Peru Project #23520

Restore Health in Cerro de Pasco

by Source International

Project Report | Feb 7, 2017
Second mission to Cerro de Pasco

By Laura Grassi | Project Manager

Children blood test for heavy metals

What is going on with our project #Restore Cerro De Pasco?

Last month we came back to the mining city of Cerro de Pasco, to go ahead helping local communities against human rights violations by extractive activities.

After many years working in Cerro de Pasco, Source International's pressure finally managed to attract the attention of the Peruvian Ministry of Health which, for the first time, sent a delegation with the task of collecting blood samples between children of the communities affected by environmental contamination. In late February, the ministry will announce results regarding the presence of lead in children's blood. Although research should be extended to other metals, lead is surely among the most dangerous. Among other effects, we can mention anemia, nerve and brain damages, kidney damage and infertility. In children also causes behavioral and learning difficulties.

Despite this positive sign the mining industry continues unabated its activities regardless of the compliance with environmental standards. The residues are discharged into rivers that originate in the area of Cerro de Pasco, in particular the Rio San Juan and Rio Tingo, putting at risk the magnificent surroundings and the lagoons of the Andean highlands, the source of clean water for the population and for the development of farming activities, fishing and agriculture. Local people still live in many of these activities and do not benefit from the mining that employs fewer and fewer people, destroying homes and lives of many others. Finally, waters flowing from these altitudes towards the two sides of the continent are dragging polluting waste into both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans.

Source International, pending the results of hair analysis and thanks to your help, is now developing a Human rights impact assessment. The aim of the study is to evaluate children's rights violations caused by mining activities and to serve as an effective tool for the local population to gain audience at the highest international institutions, including the UN. We also investigate State’s responsibility in failing to protect its citizens' health. We are especially considering what mechanisms exist to protect both the environment and the population of Cerro de Pasco and we continue advocating, influencing and working so that these environmental disasters do not go unnoticed and unpunished. We listen to the population, we raise awareness and we keep talk in loud voice about environment and human rights.

To go ahead with this important study we need your help as always.

And now more than before!

If you can donate to this big change for people of Cerro de Pasco, please do it now here.

Your support is essential for everyone who is involved into this project!

Thank you so much for being part of this CHANGE!

Pollution into the Rio San Juan

Local people are still living in poverty

Grazing on contaminated land

Local houses destroyed by mining detonations

Mining Landscape

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