From Contamination to Conflict: Peru Confronts Social License Challenges in the Amazon

On June 27, 2025, Indigenous and rural communities along the Nanay River in Peru’s northern Amazon formally filed a complaint with the Secretariat General of the Andean Community. They accuse the Peruvian government of violating its obligations under a binding regional agreement to combat illegal gold mining, which is contaminating their rivers with toxic mercury. The contamination is widespread: studies found that around 80% of residents, especially children, have blood mercury levels exceeding World Health Organization safety limits, affecting vital food and water supplies. This has resulted in serious health ailments—from developmental delays and chronic pain to skin conditions—calling into question the government’s commitment to protect basic human rights and public health