Among the greatest environmental victories in Peru last year was the unanimous passage of the “Prior Consultation Law” by the Peruvian Congress. Signed into law by President Ollanta Humala, the bill requires companies to consult with indigenous communities before undertaking any development project on their traditional lands and marks a historic step forward for indigenous rights
The new law is a major victory for Goldman Prize winners Julio Cusurichi Palacios (2007) and Evaristo Nugkuag (1991), both of whom have fought for years to elevate the voices of Peru’s indigenous communities.