Red Muqui
Collaboration with local communities whose rights and environment are affected by large-scale mining
The Red Muqui network groups together some 30 organisations that defend local communities when their rights and/or their environment are affected by large-scale mining, in almost all regions of Peru. Sustainable development, respect for human rights and participation for local communities are central to this.
The strategies and activities of the member organisations, and therefore of the network, depend on the context, which varies according to the zones:
In areas where mining has been going on for a long time (mainly in the centre of Peru), the communities and the platform are demanding better conditions and precautions in terms of the health of the population and environmental management. The government must take effective measures against the risks of the countless waste mountains, the soil pollution, the water pollution and the health problems of the communities in the surroundings.
Particularly in the south of Peru, where mining is more recent, there are regions where local communities agree to projects on the condition that they also benefit the communities, if they bring employment, resources for social development and investments in social projects. There, the network supports the communities in their negotiations on the different conditions, and in monitoring the environmental impact.
In other areas (especially in the north of the country), many communities do not want new mining projects, because they have experienced or are aware that these projects interfere with their agricultural activities. There, the organisations and the network support various actions to question the projects: environmental impact analysis, claiming the right to consultation of the communities, developing alternative proposals to promote development, etc.
The network defends rights and interests at the national level. It makes local conflicts in the interior visible on the national agenda, especially when the member organisations and the communities in their surroundings are under great pressure from the mining companies and their representatives.
The network campaigns and develops policy proposals for social and environmental standards. In recent years, the Peruvian government has tried several times to weaken environmental standards. The platform also takes legal action to prevent this, but the pressure to further flexibilize labor and environmental legislation remains present, especially after the pandemic and the economic crisis.
Both local communities and their leaders and Muqui’s member organisations are often confronted with smear campaigns, legal persecution or repression. Red Muqui works together with human rights organisations to provide legal support to the leaders and organisations. Press campaigns ensure that they receive the much-needed attention, from the general public and official bodies.
Red Muqui also works with its member organisations on concrete alternatives to mining – by offering other avenues for interesting development. By diversifying the economy and giving opportunities to activities other than mining, the population gets other perspectives to build a better life.
