A group of young people, wearing the shirt of the Peruvian national team, carried out a mobilization through the Center of Lima to demand an end to the extreme violence suffered by environmental and human rights defenders in their regions for protecting their territories, rivers and the environment.
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Under the slogan “Peru, country of defenders: stop murdering us”, the mobilization toured the main arteries of the city, starting from the front of the San Francisco Convent. Then, they were outside the Congress of the Republic to move to Plaza San Martin and finally they concentrated on the National Stadium.
“From civil society we are here in a show of support for the defenders of the environment. They who face situations of lack of protection and criminalization by the State, have been threatened, attacked and killed. In addition to dealing with diseases resulting from environmental pollution. This is our way of showing our support and demanding that the State protect them in a timely manner and that we ask Congress to ratify the Escazú Agreement,” said Karina Castro, an environmental activist.
The youth’s t-shirts showed the number of murders that have been committed against environmental defenders: 16 since the pandemic began. In addition, each participant wore a gas mask that represents the pollution to which they are constantly exposed.
This activity was carried out to announce the First National Meeting of Defenders of Peru, which will take place on June 15, 16 and 17, where more than 70 defenders from 15 regions throughout the country will participate. This event will focus on the issue of that the Government urgently implement the new protocol for defenders that it approved.
“In this national meeting, a space for self-training, organization and reflection will be generated to demand that the State guarantee actions that put an end to violence against environmental defenders, who are on the front line of battle to protect natural resources of all Peruvians,” Castro added.
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It is important to note that for every environmental defender killed, we are all at risk of losing our livelihoods, food security, ancestral lands, clean water, homes and even our very lives. Defenders must be recognized as essential actors for society in the midst of our fight for climate change.
