Three MEPs have asked the European Commission to intervene in a human rights case in Colombia, where 11 peasant leaders face criminal charges brought by AngloGold Ashanti after protesting the company's mining project in Jericó, Antioquia. The MEPs warn that the legal proceedings may be a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) and call on the EU to monitor the situation.
In a written parliamentary question dated 6 July 2026, MEPs Cristina Guarda (Verts/ALE), Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left), and Evin Incir (S&D) asked the Commission whether the EU Delegation in Bogotá plans to visit the affected communities to verify compliance with EU due diligence and human rights standards. They also asked how the Delegation intends to monitor the legal proceedings against the farmers, in line with the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders and the Anti-SLAPP Directive.
The MEPs note that AngloGold Ashanti, a global mining company with European investment, has been conducting exploration in Jericó since 2002 and aims to establish a mining district for copper, gold, silver, and concentrates. Small-scale farmers growing coffee, avocados, and other food crops live and work in the area. Since the project was announced, critics have faced stigmatisation and disinformation campaigns. The situation escalated in 2025 when the company filed a criminal complaint against 11 peasant leaders, accusing them of kidnapping, aggravated theft, and personal injury for exercising their right to peaceful protest. The next hearing is scheduled for August 2026.
a visit by the EU Delegation and monitoring of the legal proceedings. It reflects a policy orientation favouring human rights protection and anti-SLAPP enforcement over unconstrained mining investment. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will signal whether it views the case as a priority for EU external action and corporate accountability.