On 17 February 2025, community leaders, environmental defenders, farmers, and residents of the Tambo Valley in Arequipa began peaceful protests against the Tía María and La Tapada mining project by Southern Copper Corporation, which has government approval.
That same day, several defenders received preventive warnings from the Islay Provincial Criminal Prosecutor’s Office, urging them to avoid actions that could disturb public order or pose risks to public safety. While this measure is not a formal complaint or investigation, civil society actors argue that it threatens activists and seeks to restrict the right to protest and criminalise social movements. If misused, it could lead to significant deterioration in the enabling environment for environmental activists and defenders.