SIEMBRA

Colombia

The Socio-legal Center for Territorial Defense (SIEMBRA) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working for the defence of human rights in Colombia, the protection of nature, and the strengthening of community voices and legal processes against the threat of illegal mining. It is their aim to help construct a fair and inclusive Colombia.

River Guardians - COP26 We’ve been working with SIEMBRA on a range of environmental, peacebuilding and indigenous rights projects. Most notably, we collaborated on a project to formally recognise the River Atrato as a bearer of rights, meaning it is now legally protected against polluting practices such as illegal mining, and land grabs by armed actors.

Together with SCIAF, we are building agendas for transformation with the active participation of communities through litigation, advocacy, research and community strengthening strategies.

Viviana Tacha Executive Director of SIEMBRA

We have made progress in the defence of the Atrato River, and of the rights of the Afro-Colombian riverside communities of the Atrato basin. This allowed us to position debates on the changes needed to face the climate crisis and resulting violation of rights and injustices.

Viviana Tacha Executive Director of SIEMBRA

Atrato River - Colombia - River Guardians

Project - Guardians of the River Atrato

We work with local Indigenous, Afro-Colombian, and Mestizo rural communities, strengthening their capacity to defend, protect, and make sustainable use of their natural resources.

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