With a history of precarious and authoritative governments, communities in the Mekong region face a unique set of challenges related to large-scale development projects.
A hub of human diversity, the Mekong region in Southeast Asia is home to 300 million people from hundreds of ethnic groups. Indigenous peoples, in particular, rely on the rivers and the surrounding ecosystems to live. Communities in this part of the world are often caught between the interests of powerful corporations and governments as their rich natural resources are exploited for large-scale development and extraction projects. Illegal land grabs are common in the Mekong region, and those who take action to challenge them risk their safety, facing physical violence, imprisonment, and death.
EarthRights has worked in the region for more than 25 years. We have collaborated with numerous frontline communities to secure legal and campaign victories, such as settling with Unocal over abuses inflicted by the construction of its Yadana gas pipeline, which marked the first time a human rights lawsuit against a multinational corporation resulted in compensation for survivors.
The Mitharsuu Center for Leadership and Justice is a hub for strategic organizing, movement building, and leadership development for earth rights activists in Southeast Asia. Activists can build networks between global and local communities and challenge the most dominant governments and corporations in the world to hold them accountable for earth rights abuses.
SHIFTING POWER FROM GLOBAL ELITES TO COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
We train frontline activists to ensure that those who promote human and environmental rights have the skills and resources necessary to tackle their communities’ greatest challenges. Learn more.
We help communities demand environmental impact assessments for extractive projects planned near their homes. When large projects are planned in communities, the potential impacts can be very negative. Learn more.
EarthRights maximizes the impact of our alumni by providing ongoing structured opportunities for them to network, collaborate, exchange information and resources, and more. We foster global solidarity with our partners by supporting and contributing to their efforts. Learn more.
In Doe v. Unocal, we sued a U.S. company responsible for rape, murder, and forced labor in Myanmar. This case marked the first time a human rights lawsuit against a multinational corporation resulted in compensation for the survivors. See more of our cases.
RESOURCES FOR DEFENDERS
Our global networks and trainings put power back in the hands of frontline defenders and communities threatened and attacked in the name of development. See more.
CONNECT WITH THE SOUTHEAST ASIA OFFICE
Check out our Contact Us page for more details or send us an email at infoasia@earthrights.org
