The Court of Colombia removed a censorship on a pro-health campaign

The decision null and void the prohibition on “Take it seriously”, an operation aimed to make people aware of the impacts of the sugar-sweetened drinks. It sets a precedent on the defense of the information, health and food rights.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic.”

Bogotá.- “Don’t hurt yourself”, announces the commercial of “Educar Consumidores” that exposes the consequences of the excess of sugar on the human being. However, after a complaint from Postobon –one of the biggest companies in Latin America- the Industry and Trade Superintendence (SIC) ordered the immediate suspension of the whole campaign, for “misleading advertising”.

Last April 5th, the Constitutional Court of Colombia left with no effect the resolution and for the first time were recognized the rights to access to food and health-related information.

Educar Consumidores is a non-profit civil society organization that in September of last year launched the campaign ¨Cuida tu vida – Tómala en Serio¨. It is intended to show the health consequences of drinking. After the complaint, SIC prohibited the dissemination of commercials claiming to be “misleading advertising” because they did not have scientific or medical support, although the issuing organization forwarded the documents that supported their claims.

The ban constituted a violation of freedom of expression, the right to health and the right to information.In response to this situation, one of the judicial authorities, one of the agency issuing the campaign, focused on its right to freedom of expression, and another from Dejusticia along with a coalition of NGOs, focused on the right of access to information.

The second action was rejected in first and second instance until arriving at the Constitutional Court of Colombia, which ruled in favor of. The Court argued that the SIC should have allowed consumers to participate in a decision affecting them, and that it had not violated their right to the process.In addition, he referred to the right of users to make decisions based on informed consent, and the importance of accessing the information for it to be configured. Likewise, the Inter-American System and the United Nations Protection System, Colombia has an obligation to respect the rights enshrined, and in this case, the SIC failed to comply with this obligation.

From FUNDEPS we accompany actions such as Educate Consumers who seek to empower people to make informed decisions. We also welcome the provision made by the Colombian justice system. Chronic noncommunicable diseases are the leading cause of death in the world. It is the duty of the State to respect, guarantee and protect the rights of its citizens, especially when it comes to fundamental issues such as the protection of health.

More Information

Commercial Consumer Education

Authors

Maga Ailén Merlo Vijarra, Federico Piccioni y Agustina Mozzoni.

Contact

Agustina Mozzoni – agustinamozzoni@fundeps.org

Maga Ailén Merlo Vijarra – magamerlov@fundeps.org

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Encuestas a la comunidad de Chacras de la Merced en relación a la planta cloacal Bajo Grande – April 2017

Durante el mes de diciembre de 2016, llevamos a cabo un proceso de encuestas en el barrio Chacras de la Merced, con la finalidad de fotografiar la realidad del barrio actualmente. El objeto del proceso ha sido poder descubrir la percepción de los vecinos y vecinas del barrio respecto de la planta de líquidos cloacales, al mismo tiempo que de otras problemáticas que se pudieran identificar con carácter de emergencia y su gestión gubernamental.

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Regional thematic hearing of the IACHR in the fulfillment of the DESCA

We will be participating in one of the public hearings convened by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to be held on March 17, 18, 20, 21 and 22 in Washington.

In the context of public hearings, the one that summons us is about “Right of access to information relevant to the enforceability of economic, social, cultural and environmental rights”. This was requested from the IACHR in conjunction with organizations in the region, such as Fundación Construir (Bolivia); Institute of Legal and Social Studies of Uruguay (Ielsur, Uruguay); Regional Alliance for Free Expression and Information (Uruguay); ARTICLE 19 (Brazil); Center for Archives and Access to Public Information (CAinfo, Uruguay); Fundar – Analysis and Research Center (Mexico); And Civil Association for Equality and Justice (ACIJ, Argentina).

The hearing we will participate in will expose to the Inter-American System of Human Rights (IACHR) the need to consolidate standards regarding production and access to information that allow progress towards the effective implementation and enforceability of economic, social, cultural and environmental rights DESCA). There are international and regional commitments in this area that show clear obligations with respect to production and access to information, which are necessary in order to advance the enforceability and exercise of these rights. However, in the countries of the region there are serious failures to comply.

Several international agencies have not found necessary information to determine whether DESCAs are respected in the countries of the region. Specifically, they have noted deficiencies related to the collection and systematization of information on the exercise of the rights to education, employment, health and social security of women; Children and adolescents; People with disabilities; Indigenous peoples; Afro-descendants and migrant workers and their families. In this same line, they have stated that it is a state obligation to produce information from which it is possible to validate indicators and, in general, access to many of the guarantees covered by each social right.

Argentina and Cordoba are no exception in this regard. The case of contamination by the Bajo Grande WWTP plant, which affects the Chacras de la Merced community, is a clear example of human rights violations aggravated by the lack of access to information. The State does not provide data on levels of air and soil pollution, nor does it provide information on health effects to the people of the neighborhood, mainly women and children. In this way, the enforceability of the rights of the people affected is hampered.

That is why it is fundamental to strengthen the implementation of standards around the scope of state obligations of production, availability and timely access to information on DESCA. The latter, in addition to being essential for the design, implementation and evaluation of public policies, makes it possible to strengthen the demand strategies of civil society, generating the conditions for many violations of rights to be repaired.

We invite you to follow the live broadcast through the official website of the IACHR.

More information

Contact

Juan Carballo – juanmcarballo@fundeps.org

Débora Fernandez

We participated in the regional hearing of the IACHR in pursuit of compliance with the DESCA

We were part of one of the public hearings convened by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH), held on March 17, 18, 20, 21, and 22 of the current day in Washington.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic.”

In the framework of public hearings, the one that calls us is about “Right to access relevant information for the enforceability of economic, social, cultural and environmental rights.” This was requested from the IACHR in conjunction with organizations in the region such as Fundación Construir (Bolivia); Institute of Legal and Social Studies of Uruguay (Ielsur, Uruguay); Regional Alliance for Free Expression and Information (Uruguay); ARTICLE 19 (Brazil); Archives Center and Access to Public Information (CAinfo, Uruguay); Fundar – Analysis and Research Center (Mexico); and Civil Association for Equality and Justice (ACIJ, Argentina).

The audience of which we were a part, exposed to the Inter-American System of Human Rights (SIDH) the need to consolidate standards regarding production and access to information that allow progress towards the effective implementation and enforceability of economic, social, cultural and environmental (DESCA). There are international and regional commitments in this area that show clear obligations regarding production and access to information, which are necessary to comply with the requirements to enforce and exercise these rights. However, in the countries of the region there are serious shortcomings in their compliance.

Several international organizations have not found the necessary information to be able to determine if DESCA are respected in the countries of the region. Specifically, they have noted deficiencies related to the collection and systematization of information on the exercise of women’s rights to education, employment, health and social security; children and adolescents; People with disabilities; indigenous Afro-descendants and migrant workers and their families. In this same line, is that they have specified that it is a state obligation to produce information from which the validation of indicators is possible and, in general, access to many of the guarantees covered by each social right.

Argentina and Cordoba are not the exception in this aspect. The case of contamination by the Bajo Grande WWTP plant, which affects the Chacras de la Merced community, is a clear example of the human rights violations aggravated by the deficiency in access to information. The State does not provide data on the levels of air and soil pollution, as well as the information collected on the effects on the health of the people of the neighborhood, mainly women and children. In this way, obstacles to the enforceability of the rights of the people affected are placed.

That is why it is fundamental to strengthen the implementation of standards around the scope of the state obligations of production, availability and timely access to information on DESCA. The latter, in addition to being essential for the design, implementation and evaluation of public policies, allows strengthening the enforceability strategies of civil society, generating the conditions for many violations of rights to be repaired.

More information

Contact

Juan Carballo – juanmcarballo@fundeps.org

Civil Society Organizations’ critics to bank interpretations on human rights responsibilities

The Bank Group of Thun published a document about the implications of the UN Guiding Principles for corporate and investment banking. A group of civil society organizations publicly criticise these statements.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic.”

 

Faced with the risks involved in the Thun Group document, a group of civil society organizations issued an open letter criticizing many of the issues raised in that document. We signed the letter 34 academic and civil society organizations from 17 countries, including BankTrack, SOMO, Oxfam, Greenpeace, Global Witness and OECD Watch.

The Thun Group document develops a conceptual framework for the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights for banks in a context of corporate and investment banking. This document misrepresents principle 13.

The letter requests that the Thun Group demonstrate that it is prepared to participate in the OECD Proactive Agenda Project in good faith by amending the document they have issued and making it clear that it recognizes and respects the advice of the Office of the High Commissioner for United Nations for Human Rights.

The guiding principles are a set of guidelines agreed upon by the international community as a guideline that guides both States in their work to protect human rights and companies in their duty to respect them. This work was led by Professor Ruggie. These principles were adopted unanimously in 2011 by the United Nations Human Rights Council.

In this context, on 21 February, Professor Ruggie of Harvard responded strongly to the Thun Group document. He is “deeply concerned” by the document and raises similar points to those of the open letter. “They can undermine attempts by banks and others to fulfill their responsibility to respect human rights.” In addition, he adds that:

“It is a good example that a group of large banks are doing important work on the application of UNGPs to their sector. But I am afraid that misinterpretation of the basic elements of UNGPs and their implications in this document can seriously damage I would urge the Group to reflect on these issues and consider the possibility of issuing a future document more in line with the basic elements of the UNGPs.”

On 23 February, the coordinator of the United Nations Working Group promoting the implementation of the Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights also responded by inviting Thun Group banks to review the document “to align it with UNGPs” The Working Group considers that the discussion paper offers some useful practical considerations for banks in certain situations where they may be directly linked to the effects of human rights through the financial products or services they provide to third parties , Which may contribute or cause a human rights conflict abuse.

“The efforts of the Thun Group to explore the practical implications of the UNGPs are welcome … However, these instruments of practice that seek to interpret the meaning of UNGPs in a sector-specific context should be subject to a consultation process And review by other stakeholders in order to ensure accuracy, soundness and legitimacy. “

The Working Group believes that if not addressed, this can cause unnecessary confusion on UNGPs, which may undermine attempts by banks and others to fulfill their responsibility to respect human rights. It should be noted that the discussion paper of the Thun Group was approved by Barclays, BBVA, BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse AG, Deutsche Bank, ING, JPMorgan, RBS, Standard Chartered, UBS Group AG and UniCredit.

On 28 February Christian Leitz on behalf of the Thun Group responded to the CSO group, Professor John Ruggie and the UN Working Group. He claims to be trying to generate a constructive discussion between banks and other interested parties but has not indicated any willingness to revise the document. And it hopes to continue with stakeholders in upcoming multi-stakeholder forums by discussing the document.

A meeting open to all signatories of the letter is scheduled for 19 June where a broader dialogue with the Thun Group will take place. Professor Ruggie has said he will consider participating in this meeting if they retracted the premise that banks can not contribute to damage through their relationships with customers.

In the counter response, civil society organizations express two concerns about the June meeting. On the one hand, define a stakeholder engagement strategy as promised by the Thun Group at its last public meeting. And secondly, that you withdraw and reconsider your recent document.

From FUNDEPS we follow this process and we expect a change in the response that has given the Thun Group. The Guiding Principles on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights were created to “protect, respect and remedy” human rights, and we expect cooperation from states, private sectors and civil society to fulfill their commitments.

More information

Thun Group of Banks releases new Discussion Paper on implications of UN Guiding Principles for corporate & investment banking; commentaries provided

Leading banks under fire for misrepresenting human rights responsibilities

Contact

Victoria Gerbaldo / Encargada de Proyectos del Área de Gobernabilidad Global

victoriagerbaldo@fundeps.org

The ICIM External Consultative Group was formed

In February the ICIM concluded the process of selecting members of its External Consultative Group. Juan Carballo, Executive Director of FUNDEPS has been selected to integrate it.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”

Following a selection process, the Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (MICI) of the Inter-American Development Bank selected eight members to form its External Advisory Council (GCE).

The purpose of the CGE is to support the ICIM’s commitment to fulfilling its accountability mandate in a credible, effective and transparent manner.

Juan Carballo, our Executive Director, has been selected to join GCE with Ana-Mita Betancourt (United States), Maximiliano Brandt (Costa Rica), Leonardo Crippa (United States), Manuel Morales (Ecuador), Paulina Ibarra , Andrea Repetto (United States) and Melanie Salagnat (Mexico). The members will participate voluntarily, without remuneration and the initial mandate will be for a period of two years.

The CGE is planning its first meeting for the first half of this year. We hope that the recommendations and suggestions regarding the membership, composition and objectives and functions of the CGE that we present at the time will be taken into account in the actions of the group.

From FUNDEPS, we will share with civil society in general the opportunities for monitoring and advocacy provided by the CGE.

More information

Contact

Juan Carballo / Executive Director

Juanmcarballo@fundeps.org

Participation in the strategic planning of the IACHR

On February 10, we participated in the consultation process opened by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to civil society organizations in Washington, DC. This is done in the framework of the implementation of its strategic planning for the period 2017-2020.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”

During the first part of the day, the space was allocated to the organizations present to give their position on the human rights challenges to be taken into account for the coming years. Among the topics mentioned are the rights of migrants, women, LGTBIQ people, people with disabilities, indigenous peoples. In the second part of the consultation, the objectives that the Commission drew up as a draft were revised by working groups.

The challenges we identify in the future for human rights in the region are related to economic, social, cultural and environmental rights (DESCA), which have been widely recognized as human rights but not sufficiently addressed by hemispheric bodies. Another important item on the agenda is access to information, fundamental for democratic systems, and declared as a human right related to freedom of expression by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Access to information is of the utmost importance since it has a direct impact on the exercise of other human rights, including DESCA.On the other hand, we highlight the link between human rights and companies, due to the growing tendency to capture corporations around the world. In this sense, States should play a greater role, avoiding giving in to self-regulation commitments of the private sector and the interference of companies in sensitive public policy sectors. To this end, initiatives should be promoted to increase the levels of accountability of the private sector, not forgetting the responsibility of States. Finally, we express our concern about the situation of human rights defenders, with Latin America being one of the most dangerous regions for this group and we have proposed instances of participation outside national capitals.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS) responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Americas. The processes for reviewing the agency’s activities, such as strategic planning, are of great relevance to the inter-American human rights system and the agenda of civil society on the continent.

More information

Intervention of FUNDEPS in the Strategic Plan process

Contact

Carolina Tamagnini – carotamagnini@fundeps.org

MAR 8: FUNDEPS accompanies the International Women’s Strike

The International Women’s Strike (PIM) is a grassroots movement formed and organized by women from 35 countries in response to the social, legal, political, moral, media and verbal violence experienced daily by women throughout the world.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”

 

On October 3, 2016 -following the example of the Icelanders, the first women who called for a national strike in 1975– the Polish women called a strike in what was known as “Black Monday”.

In our country, on October 19, 2016, in response to a week in which 7 femicides happened and after a weekend in which the women were repressed in the march of the National Meeting of Women; A call was launched on social networks to join a one-hour strike and mass mobilizations. Thus, in a self-contradictory way, women’s and feminist organizations, including the Ni Una Menos group, joined the measure that was replicated in most countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

In Poland, on 24 October, the second “Polish strike” against State violence on women’s issues occurred. Polish women established contact with other women in South Korea, Russia, Ireland, Israel, Italy and Argentina. At the end of October 2016, this group – already under the name of the International Women’s Stop – decided the slogan “Solidarity is our weapon” and a call for unemployment translated into several languages. It was decided that on November 25 of this year, International Day against Gender Violence, will be the first global solidarity action and was elected on March 8 for the International Women’s Strike.

In this way, they proposed to approach a new global activism and to interpret the facts of violence from a common conjuncture. They formed a union to fight against the institutionalized oppression that the patriarchal system supposes and that suffer the men, the women and the society in general, from the State, the Justice and the means of communication.

In Argentina, the strike was promoted from the Ni Una Menos Collective and the main workers’ union centrals (CGT, CTA de los Trabajadores and CTA Autónoma) reached a political agreement of unity in articulation with groups, organizations and activists autoconvocadas. The measure of force seeks to denounce the historical inequality of women in society and its multiple consequences: from sexist violence – and its most extreme expression, femicides – to the feminization of poverty, economic violence, domestic work and care Wage gap in relation to male salaries, labor precarization, universal vacancies in maternity gardens, maternity and paternity leave extensions, salaries for victims of gender violence, equal pay for equal work, reopening of the moratorium for women Of home, among other claims. Each union is defining its type of membership: from cessation of activities from noon to assemblies at workplaces.

From FUNDEPS we extend our concern to all the forms of violence that women suffer every day around the world whose maximum exponent is the femicides. We accompany the fight, invite and join the International Women’s Stop on March 8, 2017.

More information

History of PIM (03/10/2016)

How the International Women’s Strike arose (La Tinta, 03/10/2016)

The United Nations CEDAW Committee listened to civil society organizations (FUNDES, 21/12/2016)

Appeal to the International Women’s Strike – March 8, 2017 (23/01/2017)

The gender claim achieved unity (Página 12, 17/02/2017)

Contact

Emiilia Pioletti – emiliapioletti@fundeps.org

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Panorama General de las inversiones chinas en América Latina: Los casos de Argentina, Colombia, México y Perú – March 2017

Esta publicación revisa cuál ha sido la actividad comercial y en materia de inversiones de un país con una actividad económica importante a nivel global y en ascenso como lo es China, hacia la región de América Latina y el Caribe (ALC), mirando más a detalle los casos de Argentina, Colombia, México y Perú. El objetivo particular es brindar un análisis detallado, de las inversiones chinas a nivel nacional en cada uno de los países antes señalados. Para ello, se ahonda en los antecedentes, la situación actual y las tendencias a futuro de las relaciones bilaterales entre cada uno de los países y China en materia de IED. A su vez, se analizan los marcos normativos nacionales, los principales sectores de inversión y se brindan datos de la experiencia de cada una de las organizaciones que participaron en la elaboración del documento en el proceso de investigación, búsqueda de información y monitoreo del financiamiento chino en estos países.

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Severe lack of transparency in the budget of the National Council of Women

From FUNDEPS we express our concern for the lack of transparency and clarity in the management of the budget for the National Council of Women announced in the last Official Gazette.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”

 

On January 11 of this year, the budget modification for the National Women’s Council (CNM) and the National Plan of Action against Gender Violence (PNA) was reflected in the Official Gazette, signed by the Chief of Staff , Marcos Peña. Until December 2016, there was a budget approved by the National Congress, which included a CNM and NAP item for 47 million pesos, which was added an increase of 20 million pesos to the original budget planned for the CNM. The Budget Law 2017 was then promulgated with that increase from 96 to 116 million by 2017. In the current Administrative Decision 12/2017 of the Chief of Cabinet, only the amount of 96 million was designated for the CNM which implies a reduction of 67 Million pesos of the assigned budget.

From this confusing situation, an amparo action was filed by the Civil Association for Equality and Justice (ACIJ), the Latin American Justice and Gender Team (ELA), the Foundation for the Study and Research of Women (FEIM), The Argentine Commission for Migrants and Refugees (Caref), the Women in Equality Foundation (MEI) and the 21st Century Foundation. The organizations made a presentation to the Court to declare unconstitutional the reduction of funds allocated to the National Council of Women And the National Plan of Action against Gender Violence, demanding the State for the violation of the division of powers and the discretionary use of “superpowers”.

The authorities of the National Women’s Council tried to deny this information through an official press release and various statements in the media, claiming that it was an “error” and that the budget item, although not properly published in The Official Gazette, was guaranteed by the Ministry of Finance.

We emphasize the importance of carrying out the budgetary allocation according to established procedures, in order not to weaken institutional quality and respect democratic processes. On the other hand, if the elimination of these funds in the Administrative Decision was the product of an error, in order to be valid, the same must be corrected and published in the Official Gazette, according to the formal process. As of today, more than a month has elapsed since the publication of the Administrative Decision, it has not yet become official. This demonstrates the seriousness of the situation and the unclear and transparent management of the budget by the Office of the Chief of Staff.

As the budget line announced in the NAP is one of the points where progress was made in protecting women, we express our concern about this evidence of institutional fragility, lack of clarity and transparency that weakens the achievements against violence of genre. This situation violates the rights of women and girls in a country where every 18 hours a woman dies a victim of violence.

We also add our call for greater transparency in the mechanisms for monitoring public funds for budget execution and for greater clarity in the decisions taken by state agencies that affect the lives of millions of women.

More information

Contact

Emiilia Pioletti – emiliapioletti@fundeps.org

Concern over a Supreme Court decision that weakens human rights treaties in Argentina

A recent decision from the highest tribunal of Argentina finds that it is not mandated to change its decisions, even when these decisions were found to be violations human rights by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic.”

 

On February 14, 2017, the Argentine Supreme Court rejected the presentation of the Directorate of Human Rights of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, which requested that, as a result of the ruling of the Inter-American Court in the case “Fontevecchia et al. C / Argentine Republic, “a final judgment of the Supreme Court would be rendered null and void. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights had established that the Argentine Supreme Court should annul a civil conviction against two journalists that was understood as a violation of freedom of expression.

The new jurisprudence of the Supreme Court represents a disturbing change in the sustained jurisprudence that had allowed to position the Argentine right in a place of vanguard at regional level with respect to the scope and normative value of the international human rights treaties. According to the new criterion, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has no jurisdiction to order review of Supreme Court rulings that violate human rights.

This is a serious setback in human rights, which weakens the value of the inter-American system of protection and places the Supreme Court practically outside the state structure, without the possibility of its decisions being reviewed in that supranational instance. In this way, the Supreme Court states that its decisions would be the only state acts unrelated to the control of human rights tribunals, further limiting their accountability.

This Supreme Court jurisprudential change confirms the fears expressed by many organizations, academics and human rights experts, including FUNDEPS, when a little more than a year ago we objected to the nominations of Drs. Rosenkrantz and Rossatti. Some of the criticisms we made at that time pointed to their doctrinal positions contrary to the full validity of international human rights treaties.

In short, we reject the criterion of our highest court and hope that it will be modified to avoid weakening the system of protection of human rights in our country.

More information

Contact

Juan Carballo, Executive Director

Conflicts over an IADB funded project for an environmental center in Carlos Paz

Neighbors requested the closure of the current open dump and expressed their opposition to the development of the environmental center in Carlos Paz, which has funding from the Inter-American Development Bank.

“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic.”

 

On Sunday, January 29, a local autoconvocatoria took place in the square of Villa San Nicolás (Malagueño), with the objective of informing and organizing itself with regard to the problem that generates in the whole area the presence of the open dump administered by the municipality of Villa Carlos Paz in the property located to the side of the motorway to Cordoba. The neighbors formed an inter-district commission that will work to elaborate the “action plan” that will define the following steps.

Through a statement, neighbors said they will request the closure of the current landfill at the time they anticipated that they disagree with the construction of the Villa Carlos Paz Environmental Center in the sector. This work is financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) through the Comprehensive Urban Solid Waste Management Program-AR-L1151.

The meeting came after a week in which the wind moved home smoke from the fire in the landfill that the city has on the side of the highway Justiniano Allende Posse, less than 1 km from the entrance to the neighborhood of Villa San Nicolás. “Only now is awareness. The smoke awoke us all and triggered the protest”, said Lucas Bettiol, a neighbor of San Nicolás, in reference to the fire that was unleashed in the landfill and warned that,“we did not know until last week that they wanted to make an Environmental Center in the same place”. They also stated: “Far from remedying the damage generated by the open dump, pollution levels will increase due to the installation of a new landfill that represents five times the size of the current landfill”.

The neighbors expressed an explicit and emphatic rejection of both the current landfill and the establishment of the Villa Carlos Paz Environmental Center. In this sense ensure that if this proposal materializes “the environment will be even more damaged, the quality of air will decrease and groundwater and surface water will be contaminated, being that in the area all neighborhoods consume well water.” Warned about the progress of the Environmental Center project, Bettiol said:
“… it will be a fight similar to what happened with Monsanto (Malvinas Argentinas), or the dumps of Bouwer and Santa Ana neighborhood … We know that it is approved but we have the antecedent of Monsanto that was managed to stop and we hope To be able to stop this. The authorities are not dimensioning the environmental or social impact (…) The population of San Nicolás was not included in the Environmental Impact Study and we are less than 1 km. TierrAlta is closer. The authorities of Carlos Paz and Malagueño minimize what is happening in the landfill “

In April last year the environmental public hearing took place, in August the Ministry of Tourism carried out the national public bidding process and in November the bids for international public bidding were opened. The works are expected to begin in the middle of this year.

In view of the possible environmental and social impacts, compliance with provincial, national and IDB operational policies must be complied with.

In the statement, they affirm that they have not been considered in the environmental impact assessment process of the IDB-financed project and that, far from remedying the damage currently generated by the open pit, the levels of pollution will increase. They demand that the municipality of Malagueño be present and that Carlos Paz recognizes the violation of his rights. They also ask the province of Córdoba to act in the prevention of damage and demand the immediate repair of the damage done in the area.

The autoconvocados neighbors of San Nicolás, TierrAlta, Mariano Moreno, La Arbolada, Lote Joven, Valle del Golf, Causana and the districts Carlospacenses Costa Azul North and South requested a public study of the quality of the air, the soil and the underground beds.

From FUNDEPS we are following this process to ensure that human rights and the environment are respected. The location of the Villa Carlos Paz Environmental Center next to the La Calera Defense Nature Reserve, and meters away from San Roque Lake in areas that may have a higher propensity to seep or leach into the water, is questionable.

More information

Contact

Gonzalo Roza / Coordinator of the Global Governance Area

gon.roza@fundeps.org