UN Special Rapporteur comments on the “repression and persecution” faced by Indigenous water protectors in Canada

Published by Brent Patterson on April 19, 2024April 19, 2024

Photo: Maria Jose Acosta Lazo and Pedro Arrojo Agudo at their media conference at the Lord Elgin Hotel in Ottawa, April 19.

Pedro Arrojo Agudo, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, has concluded his official visit to Canada.

In a media statement released today, he noted “there are challenges to be addressed” in Canada, including “the criminalization of water defenders”.

While in Canada, Arrojo Agudo visited several Indigenous territories, including the Wet’suwet’en and Secwepemc nations.

That media statement further noted: “He also expressed grave concern about the criminalisation, repression and persecution faced by Indigenous Peoples opposing large infrastructure projects.”

Arrojo Agudo says: “These actions violate their rights to peaceful protest and freedom of expression. Canada must uphold the principle of free prior and informed consent while respecting dynamics of consultation and consent established by Indigenous Peoples themselves.”

At the media conference in Ottawa this morning, Arrojo Agudo noted he had “mixed feelings” including “frustration and indignation” about Canada’s treatment of Indigenous peoples, and that he is “sadly surprised by the criminalization of Indigenous river defenders that damages Canada’s international reputation.”

He further shared that he “couldn’t help but cry with them” when he heard the stories from frontline communities.

In response to a question from PBI-Canada about the three militarized RCMP C-IRG raids on Wet’suwet’en territory, Agudo Arrojo said that the repression of Indigenous water protectors was a “shocking reaction, so violent”. He further highlighted Canada “needs to avoid this kind of repressive action”.

Arrojo Agudo stressed that the actions of the Indigenous water protectors were non-violent, but that the treatment of them has been violent. He added concern about the “judicial treatment, criminalization” of the water defenders.

The Special Rapporteur will present the report on his visit to Canada to the Human Rights Council in Geneva in September 2024.

Further reading

Indigenous communities present to UN Special Rapporteur on the right to water about the threat of Ring of Fire mining (PBI-Canada, April 9).

PBI-Canada presentation to UN Special Rapporteur on the right to water Pedro Arrojo-Agudo (PBI-Canada, April 9).

Photo: In October 2022, the Special Rapporteur was in Barrancabermeja, Colombia and met with Juan Camilo Delgado (CREDHOS), Yuli Velasquez (FEDEPESAN), Ivan Madero (CREDHOS) and Marie Zeller (PBI-Colombia).