In December 2024, El Salvador's historic ban on metal mining was overturned by the legislative assembly, which simultaneously introduced a new mining law that permits the executive government to resume mining operations with funding from multinational corporations and without public oversight.
This decision poses a significant threat to vital water sources, particularly the Lempa River, which serves over 60% of the population. Grassroots movements that successfully advocated for the ban in 2017, alongside the Catholic Church and historic Protestant churches in El Salvador, vehemently oppose this rollback, asserting that clean water is a fundamental human right—not a commodity.
After months of intense protests, the government implemented legislation aimed at silencing civil society organizations and has intensified a campaign to criminalize water defenders. While pressure from civil society organizations has waned, the Catholic Church continues to be a steadfast advocate for the protection of El Salvador's water resources. In August, Archbishop José Luis Escobar Alas of San Salvador once again called on the Salvadoran government to reinstate the mining ban during a national broadcast commemorating the country's national holidays.
International faith organizations are closely monitoring this situation and will issue a statement in support of the faith communities in El Salvador and their defense of clean water for all Salvadorans.
We invite you to join us for a virtual press conference where international faith leaders will discuss the critical importance of safeguarding clean water rights.
SPEAKERS:
- John Cavanagh, Senior Advisor, Institute for Policy Studies
- Prof. Susan Lee Smith, Williamette University Ecumenical Water Network
- Cardinal Alvaro Ramazzini
- Alfredo Leiva, Board of Directors, ADES Santa Marta
- Christie Newfeldt, Global Partnerships United Church of Canada
- Gordon Whitman, Director International Organizing Faith in Action
