UN warns Colombia over mercury contamination in Atrato River, calls crisis a human rights emergency
- The United Nations warned that mercury contamination from illegal gold mining in Colombia’s Atrato River basin has created a 'serious and ongoing human rights crisis,' affecting Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities who rely on the river for food and water.
- More than a third of the population in the Atrato watershed has been exposed to mercury levels exceeding World Health Organization limits, according to evidence received by the U.N.
- Orellana stated that violence and human rights violations linked to mercury contamination must be treated as environmental crimes.
- International law mandates that states must continually respect and guarantee the rights of affected communities.
16 Articles
16 Articles

UN warns Colombia over mercury contamination in Atrato River, calls crisis a human rights emergency
The United Nations warned that mercury contamination from illegal gold mining in Colombia’s Atrato River basin 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.
The United Nations warned that mercury pollution from illegal gold mining in the Atrato river basin in Colombia has created a “serious and continuing human rights crisis”, putting at risk the health and survival of indigenous and Afro-descendant communities dependent on the river for their food, water and culture.
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