Inter-American Court Orders Ecuador to Protect Uncontacted Indigenous Peoples from Oil

Mar 14

Based on original reporting by Katie Surma, Inside Climate News: Full Article

In a major decision, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) has ruled that the Ecuadorian government violated the rights of uncontacted Indigenous peoples by permitting oil drilling within their territories in the Amazon rainforest. The court’s judgment marks the first time an international tribunal has directly ruled on the rights of Indigenous groups living in voluntary isolation.

The court ordered Ecuador to prevent any future oil activity that could threaten the lives, lands, or culture of these communities—specifically the Tagaeri, Taromenane, and Dugakaeri peoples—whom inhabit parts of Yasuní National Park. The judges emphasized the need for strict protections under the “precautionary principle,” even in cases where impacts from oil development are uncertain.

Importantly, the court also instructed the government to fully implement the outcome of Ecuador’s 2023 national referendum, in which voters called for a halt to oil operations in the protected area.

The ruling calls for expanding protected zones, stopping encroachment by third parties like illegal loggers, and recognizing that Indigenous rights include not just territory but also health, food, culture, and environmental safety.

This decision follows decades of conflict between oil development and Indigenous survival, including violent clashes, government inaction, and territorial shrinkage caused by extractive industry expansion. We are proud supporters of our partners, Ome Yasuní, led by Penti Baihua, who played a major role in this court ruling, and continue to fight tirelessly to protect their ancestral land.