“As the U’wa Nation, we have a special mission for the Blue Planet, our Mother Earth, which is to defend her, protect her, safeguard her. Not just for the U’wa but for the whole world. This is the essence of the U’wa struggle from time immemorial.”
– U’wa leader Heber Tegria

On April 25 and 26, a legal journey initiated over 25 years ago by Colombia’s U’wa Indigenous people will culminate in a hearing before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

As the U’wa have defended their territory from oil companies, mining projects, and unwanted eco-tourism on their sacred sites, they have complemented legal strategies with community mobilization, campaigning, and important protection of their territories through spiritual work.

Amazon Watch is privileged to have been invited to accompany the hearing in Santiago, Chile. And our team won’t be alone: the U’wa also encouraged other Indigenous peoples from Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to act in solidarity with them.