EarthRights International (ERI)

EarthRights International combines the power of law and the power of people in defense of human rights and the environment, which we define as “earth rights.” We specialize in fact-finding, legal actions against perpetrators of earth rights abuses, training grassroots and community leaders, and advocacy campaigns. Through these strategies, EarthRights International seeks to end earth rights abuses, to provide real solutions for real people, and to promote and protect human rights and the environment in the communities where we work.

ERI has a three pronged approach including legal action, training/capacity building of community members and activists (Earth rights school) and campaigns.

Past and present legal actions include the filing of a suit against the IFC on behalf of fisherfolk in Gujarat India for financing of a coal fired power station (Budha Ismail Jam vs. IFC), a class action law suit against Chiquita for abetting torture, war crimes and other abuses through their financing of security forces controlled by paramilitaries in Colombia (Doe vs. Chiquita Bananas International), and supporting Honduran farmers suing the IFC for complicity in human rights violations related to (Juana Doe et al vs. IFC) for financing Dinant a notorious oil palm company accused of hiring hitmen, military forces and private security guards that intimidated and killed local farmers.

Examples of non-judicial actions include development of a Community Driven Operational Grievance Mechanism with communities affected by a Special Economic Zone in Thilawa, Myanmar and supporting communities to get access to information and remedy including in Cambodia (Koh Kong sugar plantations), Laos (Xayaburi dam), Myanmar (Kyau Phyu SEZ, Thilawa SEZ, Dawei SEZ, Heinda coal mine), Vietnam (Nicotex toxic waste dumping) and Thailand (Hongsa coal fired power plant).

ERI also supports defenders working on development finance and human rights through legal support and security management and risk assessments.