AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 2016/17

Corporation, accusing it of violent acts after it
published information about the possible
environmental impact of mining activities on
the Morona Santiago province. Consequently,
the organization remained under threat
of closure.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RIGHTS
In January, the Kichwa People of Sarayaku
denounced government negotiations aimed
at granting permission to international
companies to extract oil from their territory
without consulting the community. 1
In June, the Inter-American Court of
Human Rights issued a resolution in the
Kichwa Indigenous People of Sarayaku v
Ecuador case. It acknowledged that the state
had complied with most of the orders
contained in its previous 2012 ruling. The
Court requested further information from the
government regarding the obligation to
provide permanent training and capacity
building to help judicial functionaries resolve
cases where the rights of Indigenous Peoples
had been violated. In December the Court
held a hearing on state compliance with court
orders relating to the removal of explosives
from Sarayaku territory and the right of the
people affected by such measures to enjoy
prior consultation. The Court is expected to
issue its resolution in 2017.
In December, following a series of violent
acts and harassment by the authorities
against the Shuar Indigenous Peoples for
their opposition to a mining project in Morona
Santiago, the government declared a state of
emergency in the area and arrested the
President of the Interprovincial Federation of
Shuar Centres, Agustín Wachapá.
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
In January, campesino leaders Manuel
Trujillo and Manuela Pacheco were accused
of “terrorism” after they participated in a
campaign to oppose the construction of a
hydroelectric plant that the community
believed would restrict their right to water. 2
They were acquitted later that month due to
lack of evidence.
In July, a co-ordinator of the
Ombudsman’s Office rejected a complaint by
the Women Defenders of Mother Earth Front
who alleged that they were assaulted and
arbitrarily arrested during a peaceful protest
against a mining project in the province of
Cuenca. The women requested that the
decision be reviewed in line with the
Ombudsman’s procedures. There was no
decision by the end of the year.
1. Una vez más Ecuador estaría ignorando los derechos de los pueblos
indígenas en favor de la explotación petrolera (AMR 28/3360/2016)
2. Ecuador: Community leaders accused of terrorism (AMR
28/3205/2016)
EGYPT
Arab Republic of Egypt
Head of state: Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
Head of government: Sherif Ismail
The authorities used mass arbitrary arrests
to suppress demonstrations and dissent,
detaining journalists, human rights
defenders and protesters, and restricted the
activities of human rights organizations.
The National Security Agency (NSA)
subjected hundreds of detainees to
enforced disappearance; officers of the NSA
and other security forces tortured and
otherwise ill-treated detainees. Security
forces used excessive lethal force during
regular policing and in incidents that may
have amounted to extrajudicial executions.
Mass unfair trials continued before civilian
and military courts. The authorities failed to
adequately investigate human rights
violations and bring perpetrators to justice.
Women continued to face sexual and
gender-based violence. The government
continued to restrict religious minorities
and prosecuted people for defamation of
religion. Individuals faced imprisonment for
“debauchery” on the basis of their
perceived sexual orientation. Hundreds of
refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants were
detained while seeking to cross the
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