Justice for Indigenous Communities in Panama
The construction of a hydroelectric dam by AES Corporation in 2005 led to serious human rights violations affecting the communities of Charco la Pava, Valle Rey, Guayabal, and Changuinola Arriba, located in the province of Bocas del Toro, Panama. The project displaced entire communities from their homes and farmlands and caused severe damage to the Ngöbe territory, environment, and traditional way of life. In March 2008, two NGOs — Cultural Survival and the Asociación para la Conservación y el Desarrollo — filed a petition before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on behalf of the affected communities.
Since 2022, UNHR has been accompanying Indigenous leaders and affected community members in their efforts to seek justice and redress for the impacts caused by the construction of the hydroelectric dam. UNHR has provided legal and strategic support to the communities and their representatives, including participation in negotiation meetings with the Panamanian State and working sessions before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). Between May and December 2024, two Argentine UNHR researchers were based in the affected region, working directly with community leaders to document ongoing impacts and support local organizing.
