Side event at Rio+20 to discuss human rights and mega development projects in South America

The impact of large infrastructure projects on human rights in Latin America will be one of the topics debated at a workshop during the People’s Summit, a side event of Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, with the participation of Lucia Nader, the executive director of Conectas. 

 

“The construction of mega development and infrastructure projects is one of the new forms of investment and reproduction of capital on a large scale. Human rights violations can occur and have been occurring from the pre-installation stage right through until these projects are fully operational, affecting both rural and urban areas. The development of these megaprojects depends on an intricate and less than transparent collaboration between States and companies, including both the builders of the project and their financiers – the banks,” reads the text presenting the debate.

 

“What are the causes of the human rights violations that occur in the construction of mega development projects in South America? What are the false solutions proposed in this area? What are the alternatives?” These are some of the question that have been posed. The event will take place at 9 am, on June 15, at the People’s Summit – Rio de Janeiro. 

 

Organization: Federal University of Juiz de Fora - UFJF, Conectas Human Rights, Terra de Direitos, Mais Democracia Institute and Amnesty International.