Jacob Kopas, Attorney, International Program: “This case is the first time that the court is … really recognising a connection between the health of an environment and the health of human communities. Now with this precedent, we can point to it and say yes you have access to justice – this has been recognised as…

An international court ruled in favor of the people of La Oroya, Peru, finding that the government violated their right to a healthy environment.

The Court found Peru responsible for violating the rights of residents of La Oroya, who have been exposed to unsafe levels of toxic contamination for generations

City extensively contaminated by Doe Run Peru Smelter

Children living near smelter contaminated with high levels of lead

Virtually all the children in La Oroya suffer from lead poisoning

IACHR to examine Peru’s responsibility for contamination from Doe Run Corp. facility

Human rights petition submitted to IACHR regarding human rights violations at La Oroya, Peru (in Spanish)

Children breathe sulfur dioxide pollution at 300 times level permitted by WHO

U.S.-owned smelter continues to contaminate region

American-owned smelter has poisoned nearly everyone

The Interamerican Commission on Human Rights, prompted by Earthjustice and its partner AIDA, has repeatedly urged the Peruvian government to come to the rescue of the people—especially the children—of La Oroya in the Peruvian Andes, who suffer terrible health effects from air pollution emitted by a lead smelter operated by an American company. In fact,…