Bogotá, Colombia — BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The United Nations has warned of mercury pollution caused by mercury pollution. Illegal gold mining In Colombia’s Atrato River basin, it has created a “serious and ongoing human rights crisis,” threatening the health and survival of indigenous and Afro-descendant communities who depend on the river for food, water and culture.
in A message made public On Tuesday, three special rapporteurs of the UN Human Rights Council raised concerns with the Colombian government about insufficient compliance with a 2016 Constitutional Court ruling that recognized the Atrato River as a legal entity with rights of protection and restoration.
“Ten years have passed and we have seen that there has been insufficient implementation and compliance with the terms of this resolution,” Marcos Orellana, the UN special rapporteur on toxic substances and human rights, told the Associated Press. “A large part of the problem stems from the presence of organized crime – mercury smuggling, gold smuggling, and corruption in the military and police forces.”
The Atrato River, one of Colombia’s largest waterways, runs nearly 500 miles from the western Andes to the Caribbean Sea through the verdant Chocó forests, one of the country’s most biodiverse but impoverished regions. It is home to communities of Afro-Colombians and indigenous people who depend on fishing and small-scale agriculture, livelihoods now at risk due to toxic pollution.
Illegal gold mining is now among the main causes of deforestation and pollution in many areas of the Amazon in Latin America. High gold prices and weak tracking systems have led to this It fueled the demand For illicitly mined gold that often slips into global supply chains. The mercury used to extract the metal has devastated wildlife – including… River dolphins and fish – And polluting food sources for indigenous communities in remote areas of the Amazon region.
AP reporting last year showed how local residents — charged with protecting the river — Working as guards Illegal mining and river health, often under threat from armed groups.
Orellana said the United Nations has received evidence proving that more than a third of the population in the Atrato watershed was exposed to mercury levels exceeding the limits set by the World Health Organization. He described the situation as “incredibly alarming,” noting the metal’s extreme toxicity and its ability to cause neurological damage, organ failure and developmental disorders in unborn children.
The court’s 2016 ruling was hailed globally as a milestone in environmental law, and is inspiring similar “rights of nature” initiatives elsewhere. But Orellana said political changes, lack of funding and alleged corruption had undermined the implementation process.
“Complying with the court’s decision requires long-term institutional commitment,” he said. “Politics can interfere, and reality intervenes when budgets don’t follow.”
Orellana said the letter – signed by the Special Rapporteur on the right to a healthy environment and the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent – was sent to the Colombian government more than 60 days ago, but it has yet to receive a response. Under standard UN procedures, governments are given 60 days to respond to such communications before they are made public.
He said: “I expect the government to respond, to implement its obligations under international human rights law.”
The Colombian presidential office and the Environment Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In their letter, the United Nations rapporteurs described mercury pollution as a violation of the right to health, life and a clean environment. They urged Colombia to take “immediate and effective” steps to curb illegal mining, clean up contaminated sites and provide medical care to affected communities.
Mercury is commonly used in Small scale gold mining To separate gold from sediments, but when released into rivers it poisons fish and accumulates in human tissue. Colombia banned the use of mercury in mining in 2018, but implementation remains weak – especially in conflict zones dominated by armed groups and criminal networks.
Orellana said his office has received evidence of slavery such as forced labor, prostitution and displacement linked to illegal mining operations in the Atrato region.
“These forms of violence and human rights violations accompany mercury pollution and must be treated as environmental crimes,” he said.
He urged Colombia to take a leadership role in strengthening international mercury controls under the Minamata Mercury Convention, saying current global regulations have “gaps that must be filled” to limit cross-border trade.
Orellana added that tangible progress means seeing a reduction in the number of hectares mined – which has increased since the 2016 ruling – and ensuring communities have access not only to testing but also to specialized healthcare and clear guidance on how to reduce exposure.
“The human rights of the victims are at risk,” he said. “International law requires states to respect and guarantee rights – not for one day or one week, but all the time.”
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