HRW Urges Ecuador to Accelerate Halt of Yasuní Oil Drilling to Protect Isolated Tribes

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a statement urging the Ecuadorian government to speed up its compliance with international court orders and the results of a historic national referendum aimed at phasing out oil extraction in the Amazon.

According to a release published Monday by the international rights watchdog, the continued pumping of oil from Block 43 in Yasuní National Park raises serious concerns about the well-being of the Tagaeri and Taromenane Indigenous peoples, who live in voluntary isolation.

In March 2025, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) issued a landmark ruling ordering the suspension of drilling in Block 43. The court noted that ongoing extraction creates environmental pollution, putting these vulnerable, uncontacted communities at risk for disease, displacement, and food shortages. The IACHR declared that the current situation affects the communities’ rights to a dignified life, health, a healthy environment, and self-determination.

However, HRW notes that the transition away from drilling has been slow.

“Ecuador continues to allow extraction from Block 43, putting oil production above the rights of Indigenous communities,” said José Rodríguez Orúe, a practitioner-in-residence at HRW. He urged the government to “take immediate steps” to suspend drilling and respect the court’s ruling.

The push to phase out the wells also aligns with the will of the Ecuadorian public. On August 20, 2023, Ecuadorians voted in a binding national referendum to halt all new and existing drilling in the Ishpingo, Tambococha, and Tiputini (ITT) fields, which make up Block 43. Environmentalists and Indigenous coalitions celebrated the vote as a massive victory for one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet.

Despite the mandate from both the voters and the IACHR, the logistical and economic realities of dismantling the operations have resulted in significant delays. Reports indicate that only four out of 247 active wells had been closed by the time of the 2025 court ruling.

Furthermore, the government has suggested a timeline that would maintain oil production in the Yasuní park for the next five years to help manage the economic fallout, a plan that has drawn criticism from environmental advocates.

“The Ecuadorian government’s decision to maintain oil production for the next five years in Yasuni National Park ignores the 2023 referendum result, which directly impacts the rights of the peoples who live in the park and all Ecuadorians,” stated Richard Pearshouse, HRW’s environment and human rights director. “The government should respect the will of the Ecuadorian people and immediately end oil extraction in the area protected by the referendum.”

As the situation develops, the government continues to face the complex challenge of balancing its heavy reliance on oil revenues—which are crucial for funding the national budget and public services—with its important obligations to protect its unique biodiversity and Indigenous populations.