Lima 2014 | RON Tribunal

The second International Rights of Nature Tribunal convened December 5-6, 2014 in Lima, Peru. For two full days a panel of 13 distinguished judges heard twelve prominent cases while on the other side of the city the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UN FCCC COP 20) deliberated. The Tribunal heard evidence from experts and witnesses who are impacted by gross violations to the Rights of Mother Earth and Nature, human rights and rights of indigenous communities.

The Tribunal proceedings were intense and deeply moving as witness after witness gave intimate testimony reinforced by scientific evidence of experts. Selected cases addressed the impacts of Climate Change, destructive oil and mineral extraction, and aggressive actions against Defenders of the Earth especially in South America.

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Poster of the tribunal

The ruthlessness of actions being taken around the world against Defenders of the Earth was brought home to this Tribunal by the death of José Isidro Tendetza Antun, Shuar leader from the Condor Mine region of Ecuador, only days before the Tribunal commenced. The Tribunal was dedicated to José Tendetza’s honor.

Casey Camp-Horinek, Ponca Nation, USA and Patricia Gualinga, Sarayaku, Ecuador opened the session sharing about Indigenous cosmovision to lay the foundation for understanding Mother Earth and living in harmony with nature.

A summary of the objectives and outcomes of Tribunal was presented in a Press Conference at the UN FCCC on December 8. To view a view of the Press Conference visit UNFCCC Rights of Nature Press Conference.

A distinguished panel of judges heard the cases in Lima presented by the Prosecutor for the Earth and expert witnesses:

In memory of

This Tribunal was dedicated to José Tendetza who was going to present the Condor Mirador Case, and who was murdered a week before because of his role as a defender of nature.

Este Tribunal se dedicó a José Tendetza, quien iba a presentar el Caso del Cóndor Mirador, y quien fue asesinado una semana antes por su papel de defensor de la naturaleza.

JUDGES

ABERTO ACOSTA

Judge

Economist and former President of Constitutional Assembly. Alberto work as a consultant for the American Institute for Social Research ILDIS (Friedrich Ebert Foundation) and to lead this organization’s project to analyze the economic situation of Ecuador.

RAÚL PRADA ALCOREZA

Judge

is a Bolivian philosopher and sociologist, a docent-researcher at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, member of the La Paz-based Comuna group of political theorists, and participant in national Bolivia politics.

TANTOO CARDINAL

Judge

actress (e.g., Dances with Wolves) from the Tar Sands of Canada

BLANCA CHANCOSO

Judge

She is an Ecuadorian indigenous leader of Kichwa-Otavalo nationality. She was part of the foundation of the Confederation of Peoples of Kichua Nationality of Ecuador (Ecuarunari) and of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie). In turn, he has written about the Sumak kawsay or good living, highlighting in this article "Sumak Kawsay from the vision of women"

VERONIKA MENDOZA

Judge

She is a Peruvian psychologist, anthropologist and politician. Since December 2017 she is president of the New Peru movement.

She was also a congressman of the Republic of Peru from 2011 to 2016 for the region of Cusco and candidate for the presidency of Peru for the Frente Amplio coalition in the 2016 general elections of Peru.

ATOSSA SOLTANI

Judge

founder and Executive Director of Amazon Watch

TERISA TURNER

Judge

professor Sociology and Anthropology, former UN Energy Specialist, Canada

TOM GOLDTOOTH

Judge

Executive Director – Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) has been involved with environmental related issues and programs working within tribal governments in developing indigenous-based environmental protection infrastructures.

HUGO BLANCO

Judge

is a Peruvian political figure, leader of the Confederación Campesina del Perú (CCP, Campesino Confederation of Peru), leader of Trotsky's Fourth International and a writer.

FRANCOIS HOUTART

Judge

professor, philosopher, theologian, Belgium

OSPREY ORIELLE LAKE

Judge

is the Founder and Executive Director of the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN). She works nationally and internationally with grassroots and Indigenous leaders, policy-makers and scientists to mobilize women for climate justice, resilient communities, systemic change and a just transition to a clean energy future. Osprey serves on the Executive Committee for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature and is the visionary behind the International Women’s Earth and Climate Summit, which brought together 100 women leaders from around the world.

EDGARDO LANDER

Judge

He is a Venezuelan sociologist, professor at the Central University of Venezuela and associate researcher at the Transnational Institute.

ROCÍO SILVA SANTISTEBAN

Judge

She is a Peruvian poet, activist and journalist on issues of literature, imaginary, human rights and women's rights. She was Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Coordinator.

PROSECUTORS

RAMIRO ÁVILA

Prosecutor

holds a Doctor in Juridical Sociology, Universidad del País Vasco. Ramiro is an Ecuadorian lawyer, Director of the Law Department at the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar. He is Professor of Law Philosophy and Constitutional Law at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Quito. Ramiro is also a member of the Yasunidos Collective. Nationality: Ecuador

SECRETARIAT

NATALIA GREENE

Secretariat

is part of the International Rights of Nature Tribunal’s Secretariat. Natalia is a consultant for Rights of Nature with Pachamama Alliance and is the focal point in Ecuador for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature. She graduated in Hampshire College, holds a Political Science master’s degree from FLACSO Ecuador and a master’s degree from UASB on Climate Change. She promoted the recognition of Rights for Nature in Ecuador’s Constitution.