Communities take Guatemala to court for water rights abuses
Last month, our partner Utz Che' filed a lawsuit against the Guatemalan state on behalf of some communities along the Madre Vieja River. The communities demand, among other things, that their right to water is respected and that they are protected against water abuse and pollution by large-scale agriculture.
Local inhabitants 'free' the river. Photo by Utz Che'
Indigenous communities, farmers and fishermen on the southern coast of Guatemala have suffered from large-scale plantations for decades, mainly with sugar cane, bananas and palm oil. These companies consume so much water from the rivers that almost nothing is left for households and small-scale farmers. Moreover, the groundwater is polluted by the use of pesticides. The situation threatens not only local ecosystems and mangrove forests along the coast, but also the food security and health of the inhabitants of the region. It is mainly the women who bear the burden of water shortages due to their role as caretakers for their families.
River water is led to the plantations |
Palm oil plantation along the road |
Legalization of water abuse
In 2016, the government announced that it would take action to combat this water abuse. Their solution is to make an inventory of all water users in the area. Based on a dialogue with the companies, water usage rights would then be determined.
This de facto legalises the water abuse by the plantation owners, neglecting the rights and needs of the local population. Out of dissatisfaction with the dialogue with the government, many communities withdrew from these talks last August.
Both ENDS supports its partner organization Utz Che' in the south of Guatemala in a project that protects the Madre Vieja river against the water abuse by the large-scale agro-industry. Utz Che' works with, among others, legal counselors. Their research has shown that the planned inventory of water users is a gross violation of the right to water of the local communities.
Requirement: protect our right to water
As one of many activities, Utz Che' has now filed a lawsuit against the government to stop the inventory. The population ask that the large-scale producers are no longer allowed to continue their water abuse, and that the right to water of the local population will be given priority. In addition, they also want the government to better protect their right to food and a healthy living environment.
Doña Lesbia Perez, coordinator of the women's movement on the south coast, articulates the problem briefly: "Water is of vital importance. Especially we women have a hard time without water. Our right to water is violated and that affects not only us, but also our families. For us, water is life."
This is a project within our GAGGA-program
Utz Che' filing the lawsuit. Photo: Utz Che'
Lees meer:
- 22 July 2017: Demonstrating for environmental and human rights in Guatemala
-
22 December 2016: Guatemala: why the sugar is not so sweet
- 26 November 2017, video by Utz Che’: Violación de Derechos en Río Madre Vieja (Spanish):
The Madre Vieja in better times
Read more about this subject
-
Dossier /
Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action (GAGGA)
GAGGA rallies the collective power of the women's rights and environmental justice movements to realize a world where women can and do access their rights to water, food security, and a clean, healthy and safe environment.
-
Publication / 16 October 2023
-
Blog / 21 January 2020
Oil palms, water and women: gender in the watershed
Photo Blog - Like many communities in Indonesia, life in Semanga Village, West Kalimantan, revolves around a river. The 90 or so houses follow the curving bank of the Sambas River, each with a path down to a small pontoon where fishing traps and baskets are stacked and boats are tied.
-
Publication / 27 January 2015
-
News / 8 March 2019
Campaign "We, women are water" launched on International Women's Day
During the month of March, and as part of International Women's Day (March 8th) and World Water Day (March 22nd), the organizations that constitute GAGGA-Latin America, will lead a joint campaign called "We, women are water".
-
External link / 29 May 2019
Women’s leadership in restoring ecosystems through analog forestry (Annual Report 2018)
Due to their role as environmental leaders, women are key actors in restoring degraded ecosystems. Within the Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action (GAGGA), we work with local women's groups to promote the use of Analog Forestry.
-
Event / 22 March 2023, 13:15 - 14:30
Making finance for gender just water and climate solutions a reality!
The UN Water Conference is an important event that brings together stakeholders from around the world to discuss water and climate solutions. This year, GAGGA is organizing a side event during the conference that you won't want to miss!
On Thursday March 23rd, from 1.15 -2.30 pm, GAGGA will present their commitment to support, finance, and promote locally rooted, gender just climate and water solutions within the Water Action Agenda. This event will inspire other stakeholders to join in their commitment, while presenting inspiring examples of such solutions presented by local women from Nepal, Kenya, Paraguay, Mexico, and Nigeria.
-
Publication / 15 March 2023
-
News / 23 March 2020
Women in Latin America claim their right to water
In many places in Latin America, access to clean water is under great pressure from overuse and pollution, often caused by large-scale agriculture or mining. This has significant impact, especially on women. In March, with International Women's Day on March 8 and World Water Day on March 22, they make themselves heard and claim their right to water.
-
News / 7 August 2018
Indigenous women fight dams in Guatemala
Communities from Northern Guatemala have filed a complaint this week against the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). They bear the brunt of the construction of two large hydropower dams in the Ixquisis region, that are co-financed by the IDB. This is against the bank's own policies on environment and sustainability, indigenous people, gender, and information disclosure.
-
Publication / 2 November 2021
-
Publication / 8 March 2018
-
External link / 19 June 2020
Women and water in the shadow of oil palm plantations (Annual Report 2019)
In 2019, women from Semanga, Indonesia took action to improve the water quality in their community affected by palm oil. "The pollution needs to be stopped somewhere and it can start with me."
-
News / 19 May 2020
Women from the Niger Delta demand Shell to end pollution of air and water
Communities in the Niger Delta have been affected by air and water pollution due to Shell's activities for decades. This year, at Royal Dutch Shell's annual meeting, Kebetkache Women's Resource and Development Centre held Shell accountable for the consequences of their activities. Clean-up of oil spillages and ending gas flaring is becoming even more urgent in the fight against COVID-19, in which clean water is crucial to prevent the spread of the virus.
-
News / 5 November 2019
Guatemalan women force Development Bank to investigate gender policy violations
After a complaint filed by women's groups from Ixquisis, Guatemala, the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) has started an investigation on several policy violations, amongst which the Gender Equality policy. This is a unique chance to create a precedent, because complaints on the IDB's gender policy are very rare. The women from Ixquisis are fighting for their rights with support of the Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action (GAGGA).
-
Event / 11 March 2024
From Policy To Practice: Funding Locally-led Gender-Just Climate Action
A discussion on the intersection of climate and gender justice - specifically on financing mechanisms for gender-just climate solutions!
-
Video / 12 September 2018
Water defenders
Latin American partner organizations of GAGGA launched the campaign "We, women, are water" in March 2018. This video was launched as part of this campaign, and emphasizes the role of women water defenders.
-
Video / 12 September 2018
Water is a common good
The Latin American partner organizations of GAGGA launched the campaign "We, women, are water" in March 2018. This video was launched as part of this campaign, and emphasizes the importance of recognizing water as a common good.
-
Video / 12 September 2018
Women are water
Latin American partner organizations of GAGGA launched the campaign "We, women, are water" in March 2018. This video was launched as part of this campaign, and emphasizes the role of women in the sustainable management of water in Latin America.
-
Video / 24 November 2014
Certification and beyond - Solutions for responsible agro-commodity governance
The impacts of large-scale soy and palm oil production explained by local experts.