21 Canadian companies implicated in 88 attacks against human rights defenders over the past nine years

Published by Brent Patterson on

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Photo: Several land and territory defenders in the community of Azacualpa, Honduras, were arbitrarily detained on May 11, 2019, when protesting the mining company Minerales de Occidente, a subsidiary of Aura Minerals.

A preliminary review of the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRCC) database finds that 21 Canadian companies are implicated in 88 attacks against human rights defenders over the last nine years. Those findings include:

TC Energy (formerly TransCanada Energy) = 17 attacks

Aura Minerals = 11 attacks

First Quantum Minerals = 9 attacks

Frontera Energy = 8 attacks

Tahoe Resources (now Pan American Silver) = 7 attacks

Torex Gold Resources = 6 attacks

Hudbay Minerals = 6 attacks

Teck Resources = 5 attacks

Fortuna Silver = 2 attacks

Brookfield Asset Management = 2 attacks

Almaden Minerals = 2 attacks

Gran Colombia Gold = 2 attacks

Barrick Gold = 2 attacks

PetroTal = 2 attacks

Goldex Resources Corp. = 1 attack

Alamos Gold = 1 attack

Miranda Gold = 1 attack

Pacific Rim Mining = 1 attack

MAG Silver = 1 attack

B2Gold = 1 attack

Baru Gold = 1 attack

The BHRRC defines an attack as including surveillance, arbitrary detention, intimidation and threats, beatings and violence, and killings.

Additionally, The Globe and Mail recently reported: ‘[The office of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders] has registered 15 cases, between June, 2019, and March, 2022, of retaliation against human-rights advocates that [Mary Lawlor] alleges can be linked to the activities of Canadian mining abroad.”

That newspaper report adds: “She singled out Canadian embassies, saying many have failed to respond adequately to those who raise serious concerns about the impacts of mining and oil activities abroad. Canada introduced ‘Voices at Risk’ guidelines in 2019, aimed at supporting human-rights defenders and giving advice to Canadian diplomats working overseas, but she says it hasn’t been properly implemented.”

The information above is only preliminary research, we will continue to utilize the BHRRC database and other resources to understand this situation more fully and to make recommendations to improve the security situation for human rights defenders.

On January 13, 2021, PBI-Mexico posted: “14 human rights defenders were extrajudicially executed in 2020.”

One of those listed in the Comité Cerezo report is Oscar Ontiveros Martinez. MiningWatch Canada has noted: “Ontiveros Martínez’ assassination has been connected with his involvement in a 2017 strike involving about 600 workers who sought to change unions, a struggle that has led to at least three murders and one disappearance to date.” For additional context: Torex Gold Resources Inc. – Freedom of association and threats of violence/death (Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability, February 14, 2023).

Further reading: The “Canada Brand”: Violence and Canadian Mining Companies in Latin America and Human Rights Abuses by Canadian-Owned Mining Operations Abroad.


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