The Wayúu People and el Cerrejón in Colombia An Investigation of Indigenous and Environmental Rights and economic development

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to study the impact the coal industry in el Cerrejón has had on the indigenous Wayúu population at the north of Colombia. The issue is addressed in through a human right lens discussing the importance of environmental and indigenous rights, which are not yet included in any legal document of the United Nations. The topic of environmental and indigenous rights is furthermore analyzed with a specific case study to illustrate the fate of indigenous groups. Furthermore, the analysis includes the theory of free trade, promoted by organizations such as the World Trade Organization promoting benefits in developing countries by making foreign direct investment seem an attractive option for development. Nonetheless this economic system has left traces on the Wayúu community with displacement, contamination and a general change in their daily life.