Dr. Gustavo Jalkh

Minister of Justice and Human Rights

Av. Amazonas y Atahualpa

Quito – Pichincha

Ecuador

Dear Dr. Gustavo Jalkh,

Esther Landetta, leading member of two community-based organizations in the Guayas province concerned about the effects of irregular mining activities on their communities’ health and livelihoods, has been forced into hiding with her two children because of death threats against her.

Esther Landetta has been at the forefront of efforts to protect the rivers Gala, Chiko, Tenguel and Siete in the Guayas province and to document and publicly denounce the pollution of these rivers.

The Public Prosecutor´s Office has opened an investigation into the death threats but until now nothing has happened.

May I remind you that human rights defenders must be allowed to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals, as set out in the Declaration of Human Rights Defenders.

I therefore urge you to protect Esther Landetta and immediately progress the investigation into the death threats against her so that those responsible can be brought to justice.

Yours sincerely,

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