Reflection

As we commemorate the 2023 International Human Rights Day, we continue to face challenges that threaten the integrity and dignity of individuals worldwide. The images of death and destruction reaching us from Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, the thousands of desperate migrants and refugees forced to leave their homes to flee violence and drown in the Mediterranean or the Rio Grande, are the most tragic and evident expressions of what threatens human dignity. We cannot take for granted the achievements of the International Declaration of Human Rights, adopted seventy-five years ago in 1948.

The world has changed significantly since then. We have witnessed an increase in the complexity of human rights issues, emphasizing the urgent need to address global problems beyond national borders. The most significant threat today is undoubtedly the advance of climate change, which endangers the lives of all humanity. The solutions we seek to address the climate crisis must be pursued with respect for human rights.

However, producing low-emission technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, or electric batteries will drive the demand for "transition minerals" such as aluminium, copper, lithium, nickel, and rare earths. So, one of the crucial challenges is the intersection between human rights and mining extractivism. Despite contributing to the global economy, mining poses significant risks to local communities and the environment.

One of the most evident risks is the environmental degradation associated with mining extractivism. Unbridled exploitation of mineral resources often leads to water pollution, ecosystem destruction, and biodiversity loss. Thus, it compromises the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, a human right recently recognized by the United Nations General Assembly.

This human right is an advocacy of the Justice in Mining Network, which brings together social centres and Jesuit NGOs working for socio-environmental justice in mining-affected contexts. Abandoning a model of economic development based on fossil fuel consumption is a moral obligation, and there is an urgent need to promote renewable energy and more sustainable and environmentally respectful lifestyles.

Another critical risk we face is the disproportionate impact of mining extractivism on indigenous communities. These communities often find themselves on the front lines of mining operations, with their rights to land, self-determination, and preservation of cultural identity under threat. On this 2023 International Human Rights Day, it is imperative to emphasize the importance of addressing these structural inequities and ensuring that the right to consultation of indigenous communities in decisions affecting their lives and territories is respected, as well as respecting their right to say no.

Moreover, corporate responsibility emerges as a critical risk affecting the protection of human rights in the context of mining extractivism. In pursuit of profits, multinational companies sometimes operate without considering their actions' social and environmental consequences. This risk underscores the urgent need to establish binding legislation and stricter standards of transparency and accountability to ensure that companies respect human rights at all stages of their operations.

We cannot conclude this article without remembering the advocates who lost their lives this year to protect human rights and the environment. They are nearly two thousand people in the last decade. In this context of growing risks, International Human Rights Day becomes an opportunity to reflect on how to address these challenges effectively. The cry of the poor and the cry of the earth cannot wait.