Colombia Atrato River guardians win Rafto Prize

The Collegiate Body of Guardians of the Atrato River has won Norway's Rafto Prize for its fight against illegal mining and environmental destruction in Colombia.

The Rafto Foundation said on Wednesday that the group was honoured for its members' “courageous fight against environmental destruction and for the protection of human rights in Colombia”.

The foundation said the Atrato basin in north-west Colombia is exposed to high levels of violence linked to armed groups and criminal networks involved in illegal mining. It said gold mining and other illegal resource extraction have caused environmental damage and pollution in the area.

The Guardians of the Atrato River monitor and document areas affected by illegal extraction, raise awareness among local residents about pollution risks and press authorities to enforce court decisions.

The river springs from the Andes and flows into the Caribbean Sea through one of the world's most biodiverse regions, which has also been affected by Colombia's conflict. The foundation said mercury used in gold mining has accumulated in soil, river water and aquatic life.

The Rafto Prize, first awarded in 1987 and named after Norwegian historian and human rights activist Thorolf Rafto, carries a cash award of $20,000. The winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize is due to be announced on October 9 in Oslo.