The Yasuní ITT Case highlights the environmental and social impacts of oil extraction in the Yasuní National Park in Ecuador. This case was brought to the Tribunal following Ecuador’s decision to exploit oil reserves in the ITT (Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini) block, despite the park’s extraordinary biodiversity and cultural significance.
The first tribunal was held in Quito in January 2014. The tribunal examined the detrimental impact of oil drilling on Yasuní’s ecosystems and its indigenous peoples. Testimonies from the Yasunidos movement and other activists highlighted the government’s disregard for the constitutional rights of nature and the failure to respect indigenous land rights. The tribunal condemned the Ecuadorian government for these violations and issued a verdict to halt all oil extraction activities in the ITT block.
In August 2014, the Tribunal convened in Lima and shifted the focus to the human rights violations faced by environmental defenders. The session addressed the attacks on the Yasunidos movement, which included harassment, repression, and violations of their rights to association and free expression.
The tribunal received testimonies from indigenous representatives, including Patricia Cahullí, a Waorani woman, who spoke about the internal conflicts exacerbated by oil activities, such as violence between contacted Waorani and uncontacted Taromenane groups. The tribunal called for indigenous communities to leverage their traditional justice systems to resolve such conflicts.
Additionally, in view of the environmental degradation and social dislocation caused by oil extraction, the tribunal recommended an expert paper on the Yasuni ITT initiative as a strategic document to defend the rights of nature.
The case was revisited in December 2015 at the Paris Tribunal, where the focus expanded to consider charges of Ecocide against the Ecuadorian government. This session evaluated whether the actions in Yasuní constituted Ecocide under proposed amendments to the Rome Statute, given the significant transnational ecological impacts of oil extraction in such a biodiverse region.
In this tribunal, Esperanza Martinez introduced the “Annex Zero” proposal, advocating for the establishment of territories where oil and gas reserves remain untapped to prevent climate change and ecological harm.
The tribunal emphasized the importance of international cooperation and accountability in protecting these critical ecological areas, recognizing Yasuní as a symbol of unity between the Global South and North in environmental conservation efforts.
Read more about the past tribunal sessions on the Yasuní: https://www.rightsofnaturetribunal.org/cases/yasuni-itt-case/ .
In August 2023 a citizen popular consultation, organized and requested by the YASunidos, and supported by the indigenous communities living in the affected and surrounding area obtained a vote at national level, resulting in Ecuador having to stop all exploitation activities in the oil block 43. This example shows how civil society, united, and organized can mark a turning point in defending ecosystems and their rights.
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