“The struggle of the Wiwa communities to defend their territory is not only a matter of survival but also a call for environmental justice and the protection of human rights in the face of economic interests and legal and illegal armed actors who threaten their existence and that of the natural environment they guard.”[i] – CINEP
To commemorate International Human Rights Day, last 10 December 2024, Fabian Hamilton MP, Chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group, triggered a short debate in the House of Commons. Just a few days before, he chaired an event in parliament for ABColombia and CAFOD’s delegation from the Wiwa Indigenous Peoples of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia and CINEP.
During the visit, the delegation met with Fabian Hamilton to raise awareness of the situation that is affecting their territory – a unique ecosystem that is host to a complex of páramo ecosystems, around 35 watersheds, 60 micro basins, and 383 glacial lagoons[ii] – which has been recognised as a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO (1979). The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is a sacred place for the Wiwa Peoples, as well as the Kankuamo, Arhuaco and Kogi Peoples – the four ancestral tribes of the Sierra Nevada. It is known as the “heart of the world” due to its sacred importance for indigenous peoples.
Today, the Wiwa Peoples are faced with a multidimensional crisis, stemming from conflict between illegal armed groups and the impacts of large-scale “development” projects like mining, in their territory. This situation is especially difficult for women and girls, who also face structural, physical and psychological violence against them. The Wiwa Peoples are at risk of forced displacement and the disintegration of community life.[iii]
Fabian Hamilton referenced meeting the Wiwa delegation in his debate, highlighting the precarious situation in Colombia for human rights, land and environmental defenders, and calling for better protections.
For further information on the situation in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, you can read a short report written by CINEP, available in English or Spanish.
Watch a snippet of the debate below, or click here to watch the full debate.
[i] “A Call from the Heart of the World: Vulnerability in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta: Armed Conflict, Mining, and Climate Crisis”, CINEP, 2024, p2
[ii] “” p1
[iii] “” p2