In connection with the Rafto Prize 2026 being awarded to The Collegiate Body of Guardians of the Atrato River (CCGA), the Oslo Group invites you to a panel discussion at Litteraturhuset. On Tuesday, November 10th, we will honour CCGA for its courageous fight against environmental destruction and for the protection of human rights in Colombia.
Working in Colombia, one of the most dangerous places on earth for human rights defenders, CCGA brings together local communities to confront environmental destruction and the threats posed by armed groups and criminal networks engaged in illegal mining. Despite significant personal risks and limited resources, the Guardians monitor ecological destruction, educate affected communities and hold authorities accountable.
For Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities living along the Atrato River, the river is a lifeline: an indispensable source of drinking water, the basis of food systems and a vital means of transport. Illegal gold mining and other forms of exploitation threaten not only the region’s ecosystems but also the fundamental rights, health, and survival of the people who depend on them.
We invite you to join us for an engaging conversation about the work of CCGA and the broader challenges at the intersection of human rights and environmental protection. Together with our panel participants and representatives of the CCGA, we will explore how local communities can defend their territories, safeguard vital ecosystems, and demand accountability in the face of violence and exploitation.
