Mujeres Kukama dicen que su río Marañón es un ser vivo: Demanda pionera presentada en Perú

Huaynakana Kamatahuara kana, una federación de mujeres Kukama en el bajo Valle del Marañón, ha presentado una acción legal pionera exigiendo que el gobierno peruano reconozca su río como una persona jurídica, o "Ser Vivo". Una coalición de organizaciones nacionales e internacionales, incluido el Instituto de Defensa Legal, International Rivers y el Earth Law Center, brindan asistencia y apoyo legal. Una coalición de abogados y académicos canadienses ha presentado un amicus curiae en defensa de la petición.

Para muchos pueblos indígenas como los Kukamas, sus ríos son seres vivos con derechos que deben ser reconocidos y protegidos. El río Marañón es la fuente de alimento, agua y transporte del pueblo Kukama; también es el centro de su universo espiritual. Después de ver cómo su río sufría contaminación durante décadas, especialmente por derrames de petróleo sistémicos que han destruido su frágil ecosistema y sus pesquerías, las mujeres Kukama decidieron emprender acciones legales.

El 8 de septiembre la federación de mujeres y sus abogados de IDL iniciaron una acción judicial en un tribunal peruano para que se reconociera a su río como persona jurídica. La petición demanda a varias entidades gubernamentales de violar los derechos fundamentales del río Marañón, entre ellas Petroperú, la estatal petrolera, el Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y el Ministerio de Energía y Minas.

Huaynakana fue fundada en 2001 para promover los derechos de las mujeres Kukama-Kukamiria y proteger su medio ambiente y cultura. La federación representa a mujeres de 28 comunidades indígenas en el distrito de Parinari en el río Marañón en la región amazónica del norte de Perú.

Abogados y académicos canadienses de tres universidades presentaron un amicus curiae en la corte peruana el 29 de septiembre para respaldar la demanda de Huayanakana. El documento muestra cómo varios gobiernos provinciales han reconocido el derecho de los pueblos indígenas a administrar sus propios recursos. El amicus describe la creciente importancia de la ley indígena dentro del proceso de evaluación del impacto ambiental en Canadá.

Detalles de la acción legal de Huaynakana

Las mujeres Kukama están pidiendo el reconocimiento de derechos específicos para el Río Marañón que incluyen: el derecho a existir, fluir, vivir libre de contaminación, alimentarse y ser alimentado por sus afluentes, y ser protegido, preservado y restaurado. Estos derechos están de acuerdo con la Declaración Universal de los Derechos de los Ríos.

La creciente jurisprudencia comparada en todo el mundo, como el río Atrato en Colombia, el Río Whanganui en Nueva Zelanda y el Río Magpie en Canadá, está otorgando derechos sobre los ríos. Los miembros de Huaynakana dicen que su río también debe protegerse debido a su valor cultural y espiritual.

La Constitución de Perú protege los valores culturales de sus pueblos indígenas y el país es signatario del Convenio 169 de la OIT y de la Declaración Americana de Pueblos Indígenas.

La demanda también pide a Petroperú que lleve a cabo el mantenimiento y reparación de su gasoducto peruano norte con fugas, y el establecimiento de comités locales de gestión de cuencas hidrográficas para garantizar la participación de los pueblos indígenas en la administración y conservación de sus recursos hídricos.

Las mujeres Kukama exigen que el gobierno peruano reconozca a las organizaciones indígenas como guardianes, defensoras y representantes del Río Marañón y sus afluentes. Piden la creación de los “Guardianes del Río Marañón”, institución que representaría al río y sus intereses en coordinación con las agencias gubernamentales. Esta institución le daría al río Marañón un lugar en la mesa durante las reuniones de alto nivel y potencialmente permitiría que el río influyera en las decisiones públicas y privadas sobre su Ser y Afluentes.

El Congreso Mundial de la Naturaleza de la UICN expresó su preocupación por las amenazas que enfrentan las cuencas fluviales de Perú y recomendó que el río Marañón sea considerado un tema especial de protección debido a su importante papel en el ecosistema amazónico.

“No vivimos del dinero. Vivimos de lo que cultivamos en nuestra tierra y de nuestra pesca. No podemos vivir sin peces ”. Isabel agrega que las mujeres interpusieron acciones legales para proteger el río para sus hijos y nietos.”

— Isabel Murayari
Miembro de la Junta, Huaynakana Kamatahuara Kana

Enlaces a videos producidos por Huaynakana, Asociación Quisca y Radio Ucamara

El Río Marañón es un ser vivo 

Habla un Periodista Kukama: el río Marañón es un ser vivo

Habla un Sanador: nuestras plantas medicinales necesitan los ríos

Un pescador y una madre hablan de su río

Contactos

Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari, Huaynakana President. +51 925 764 188

Carmen Rosa Arévalo, Huaynakana Advisor. + 51 938 853 259

Juan Carlos Ruiz, IDL Lawyer. +51 997 521 685, jruiz@idl.org.pe

Maritza Quispe, IDL Lawyer. +51 997 598 906, mquispe@idl.org.pe

Charis Kamphuis, JCAP Lawyer. (+1) 250 572 2625 ckamphuis@tru.ca

https://proyecto-justicia.org/

Monti Aguirre, International Rivers, monti@internationalrivers.org

https://www.internationalrivers.org/

Constanza Prieto Figelist, Earth Law Center, cpfigelist@gmail.com, https://www.earthlawcenter.org/

Stephanie Boyd, Cineasta/Periodista, Asociación Quisca. quiscaproductions@gmail.com

www.karuara.com

Kukama Women Say Their Marañón River is a Living Being: Groundbreaking Lawsuit Filed in Peru

Huaynakana Kamatahuara kana, a Kukama women’s federation in the lower Marañón Valley, has filed a groundbreaking legal action demanding that the Peruvian government recognize their river as a legal person, or “Ser Vivo” (Living Being)). A coalition of national and international organizations including the Institute for Legal Defense, International Rivers, and the Earth Law Center are providing legal aid and support. A coalition of Canadian lawyers and academics have presented an amicus curiae in defense of the petition. 

For many Indigenous people like the Kukamas, their rivers are living beings with rights that should be recognized and protected. The Marañón River is the source of food, water, and transportation for the Kukama people; it is also the center of their spiritual universe. After watching their river suffer contamination over decades, especially from systemic oil spills that have destroyed its fragile ecosystem and fisheries, the Kukama women decided to take legal action. 

On September 8th the women’s federation and their lawyers from IDL filed a legal action in a Peruvian court to have their river recognized as a legal person. The petition accuses various government entities of violating the fundamental rights of the Marañón River, including Petroperú, the state-run oil company, the Ministry of the Environment, and the Ministry of Energy and Mining.

Huaynakana was founded in 2001 to promote the rights of Kukama-Kukamiria women and protect their environment and culture. The federation represents women from 28 indigenous communities in the district of Parinari on the Marañón River in Peru’s northern Amazon region.      

Canadian lawyers and academics from three universities filed an amicus curiae in the Peruvian court on September 29th to support Huayanakana’s lawsuit. The document shows how various provincial governments have recognized the right of Indigenous people to manage their own resources. The amicus describes the growing importance of Indigenous law within the environmental impact assessment process in Canada.

Details of Huaynakana’s Legal Action

The Kukama women are asking for recognition of specific rights for the Marañón River including: the right to exist, to flow, to live free from contamination, to feed and be fed by its tributaries, and to be protected, preserved, and restored.

These rights are in accordance with the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Rivers. Growing comparative jurisprudence worldwide, such as Colombia’s Atrato River,[1] New Zealand’s Whanganui[2]  River and Canada’s Magpie River, is providing rights for rivers. Huaynakana’s members say their river must also be protected because of its cultural and spiritual value.

 Peru’s Constitution protects the cultural values of its Indigenous people, and the country is a signatory to Convention 169 of the OIT as well as the American Declaration of Indigenous People.

 The lawsuit also calls on Petroperú to carry out maintenance and repairs on its leaky North Peruvian Pipeline, and for the establishment of local river basin management committees to ensure the participation of Indigenous people in the administration and conservation of their water resources.

 The Kukama women are demanding that the Peruvian government recognize Indigenous organizations as guardians, defenders, and representatives of the Marañón River and its tributaries. They call for the creation of the “Guardians of the Marañón River”, an institution that would represent the river and its interests in coordination with government agencies. This institution would give the Marañón River a seat at the table during high-level meetings and potentially allow the river to influence public and private decisions over its Being and Tributaries. 

 The IUCN World Conservation Congress has expressed concern about the threats facing Peru’s river basins and advised that the Marañón River be considered a special subject of protection due to its important role in the Amazon ecosystem.[3]

“We do not live on money. We live from what we grow on our land and our fishing. We can not live without fish.” Isabel adds that the women filed their legal action to protect the river for their children and grandchildren. ”

— Isabel Murayari
Board Member, Huaynakana Kamatahuara Kana

Huaynakana Videos

The Marañón river is a living being

A Kukama journalist speaks: the Marañón River is a Living Being

A Healer speaks: our medicinal plants need the rivers

A fisherman and a Mother speak about their river

 Contacts

Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari, Huaynakana President. +51 925 764 188

Carmen Rosa Arévalo, Huaynakana Advisor. + 51 938 853 259

Juan Carlos Ruiz, IDL Lawyer. +51 997 521 685, jruiz@idl.org.pe

Maritza Quispe, IDL Lawyer. +51 997 598 906, mquispe@idl.org.pe

Charis Kamphuis, JCAP Lawyer. (+1) 250 572 2625 ckamphuis@tru.ca

https://proyecto-justicia.org/

Monti Aguirre, International Rivers, monti@internationalrivers.org

https://www.internationalrivers.org/

Constanza Prieto Figelist, Earth Law Center, cpfigelist@gmail.com, https://www.earthlawcenter.org/

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[1] Corte Constitucional de Colombia, Sala Sexta de Revisión, Acción de tutela del Rio Atrato, T-622 de 2016, 10 de noviembre, 2016

[2] Nueva Zelanda, Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Act 2017.

[3] Ver. https://www.iucncongress2020.org/motion/013

Advocates at IUCN Congress Highlight a Wave of New Support for the Rights of Rivers

Contacts:    

1. Monti Aguirre, International Rivers (707-591-1220; monti@internationalrivers.org) 

2. Grant Wilson, Earth Law Center (510-566-1063; gwilson@earthlaw.org) 

 For immediate release: September 8, 2021

 Marseille, France—Today, advocates from across the globe gathered at the IUCN World Conservation Congress (both in person and remotely) to highlight the precipitous growth of the movement to recognize the rights of rivers and watersheds. The press conference also marked the approximate one year anniversary of the formal launch of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Rivers (“Declaration”), a civil society initiative to define the basic rights to which all rivers are entitled. According to its proponents, the Declaration intends to build awareness and serve as a customizable legal model for governments wishing to join the rights of rivers movement.

Over the past year, rights have been recognized or declared for (at minimum) Boulder Creek and the Boulder Creek Watershed (Nederland, USA, mirroring some language from the Declaration), the Magpie River (Canada), waterways in Orange County, Florida (USA), the Alpayacu River (Ecuador), and the Paraná River and Wetlands (Rosario, Argentina). In contrast to traditional environmental laws that recognize Nature as mere human property, this legal precedent acknowledges that rivers, watersheds, and other natural entities are living entities with rights.

With regards to the Declaration, it now has support from close to 1,700 individuals and 211 organizations from over forty countries. Numerous ‘rights of rivers’ campaigns also incorporate parts of the Declaration, including in El Salvador (rights of the Lempa River), France (rights of the Tavignanu River), Mexico (rights of all rivers in Oaxaca), Nigeria (rights of the River Ethiope), Pakistan (rights of the Indus Delta and River), Serbia, and the UK (rights of the River Frome). Additionally, last week, 16 IUCN members co-sponsored an emergency motion calling upon IUCN members to endorse the Declaration, although it did not pass. 

Advocates have also submitted a multitude of amici curiae briefs in defense of the ‘rights of rivers’ that specifically reference the rights recognized in the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Rivers, including briefs seeking to protect the rights of the Dulcepamba River, Piatúa River and Nangaritza River in a series of cases currently before the Constitutional Court of Ecuador. Another amicus brief seeks to protect the Marañon River in Peru based in part on the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Rivers. In one instance, an administrative body in Ecuador upheld the rights of the Dulcepamba River and ordered protection of its flows.

The momentum towards the rights of rivers is growing as a response to mounting global threats to rivers and freshwater ecosystems. According to the 2020 Living Planet Index, 944 monitored freshwater species declined by an average of 84% between 1970 and 2016. Due to an onslaught of dams and other infrastructure, only 37 percent of rivers longer than 1,000km still flow freely.  

 The notion of recognizing the personhood or rights of rivers gained global attention in 2017. That year, a treaty agreement between the Whanganui Iwi (a Māori tribe) and the Crown Government recognized the Whanganui River as a legal person, a Constitutional Court decision in Colombia recognized the rights of the Atrato River, and a court in Uttarakhand, India, recognized the Ganga and Yamuna Rivers as legal persons with rights (later stayed). In 2008, Ecuador became the first country to constitutionally recognize the Rights of  Nature. 

Quotes: 

“It is obvious that effective river management works best at the basin scale, and ‘river rights’, as described in the Declaration, is a very important way of achieving this and ensuring protection of ecosystem integrity.” 

-Angela Andrade, Chair of IUCN’s Commission on Ecosystem Management

“Globally, rivers have enormous social, cultural, environmental, and economic value, but are becoming progressively more threatened. The Rights of Rivers approach is becoming increasingly important for ensuring that they can continue to provide these essentials to benefit nature and the people who rely on them.” 

Kristen Walker, Chair of IUCN’s Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy.

“Western law and culture often treat rivers as a human resource instead of recognizing the reality that they are living systems. An important step towards correcting this falsehood is for rivers and other natural entities to be recognised in law as legal entities with intrinsic rights.” 

-Jessica Sweidan, CoFounder & Trustee of Synchronicity Earth; IUCN Patron of Nature.  

“The playbook for protecting rivers and watersheds must evolve beyond the traditional environmental law approaches we’ve been using since the 1960s, as such laws are helpful but grossly inadequate. The Declaration is a useful legislative starting point for those wishing to promote new, Earth-centered legal protections for fresh waters.”

-Grant Wilson, Executive Director of Earth Law Center.

“This movement towards recognizing the rights of rivers will be extremely helpful for protecting the freshwater biodiversity present in these ecologically important rivers.” 

-Dr. Topiltzin Contreras Macbeath, Head of the Conservation Biology Research Group at the University of Morelos, México and Co-Chair of the Freshwater Conservation Committee of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission.

“Rivers are the veins of the Earth. They hold so much life and provide the conditions for life to evolve, flourish, and regenerate. This declaration is essential in the process of legally recognizing the inherent rights of rivers worldwide, as a way to protect their integrity, health, and role in Earth’s web of life.” 

-Hana Begovic, Director of Earth Advocacy Youth.

“A global study of river protections that I recently led shows the growing importance of the Rights of Rivers movement, relative to some of the other protection systems we discussed. We concluded that Rights of Rivers is a powerful tool for recognizing Indigenous cultural plurality in legal systems, and for bringing about transformative change in the protection of nature.”

-Dr. Denielle Perry, Director of the Free-flowing Rivers Lab in Northern Arizona University’s School of Earth and Sustainability, and Co-Chair of the Durable River Protection Coalition.

"Rivers across the planet are ribbons of biodiversity that are facing unprecedented threats due to climate change and dam building. Rights of Nature for Rivers offers a path forward that combats these threats and gives rivers their rightful protection as the planet's life-saving arteries.” 

-Gary Wockner, Co-Founder of Save The Colorado and Founder of Save The World's Rivers.

“Our current laws are not rising to address the climate and biodiversity crises. Freshwater ecosystems need permanent protections to sustain water quality, food security, and human rights. A Rights of Nature approach offers transformative change at a time where it could not be needed more.”

Monti Aguirre, Latin America Manager at International Rivers.

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 Find more on the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Rivers, visit www.RightsOfRivers.org