On 22 April 2025, after more than a decade of legal proceedings, the Superior Court of Justice of Apurímac overturned the conviction of 11 human rights defenders and community leaders from the provinces of Cotabambas and Grau. The accused were acquitted of all criminal and civil charges stemming from their participation in the 2015 social protests against the Las Bambas mining project.
The defendants had originally been sentenced to prison terms of between eight and nine years and faced substantial civil reparations. However, the appeals process revealed a lack of sufficient evidence to support the accusations.
Many national and international organizations see this ruling as a significant precedent in the defense of the rights of communities affected by extractive projects. Institutions such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and Front Line Defenders acted as observers throughout the judicial process.
The acquittal reaffirms the legitimacy of the demands made by campesino communities and Indigenous peoples. It paves the way for renewed legal efforts to uphold collective rights in the face of powerful economic interests in the extractive sector.