What did we do Escazu?

He is one of those signifying texts from an era but of which few voices echo. Seven years ago, twenty-four countries in Latin America and the Caribbean signed the Escazu agreement, at Costa Rica, entered into force in April 2021.

And what is he talking about? The right to access to information, public and justice participation in the environment. An important commitment when this region of the world has the sad record for violence against the Aboriginal people, the precarious and the militants who fight for social justice.

Patricia GUALINGA MONTALVO, representative of the Kichwa people of Sarayaku, in the Ecuadorian region, is one of those actors on the ground committed and courageous. In her family, she is not the only one: her mother, Cristina, her sister, Noemi, her brother Eriberto and her two nieces are all mobilized in the defense of human and environmental rights.

In 2012, she accompanied the fight of her community against oil exploration authorized by the government in the region. After a resounding trial, the Kichwas managed to have the authorities condemned for not having consulted the local community beforehand, in the line of Escazu agreements.

There is no doubt that this woman, invited to speak to Rome by Pope Leo, will be able to “arouse hope”, to use the title of this conference which will take place on October 2 and 3, 2025 for the 10 years of Laudato if ‘.