Summary
In 2019, the superior court of Medellin ruled in favor of the rights of the Cauca River and of future generations. The ruling builds on a 2016 ruling by the Constitutional Court in which rights of nature and the concept of ecological constitution were established. The ruling designates specific protections for the river as a source of biodiversity, water, and sustenance, It also recognizes future generations as a group in possession of fundamental rights to dignity, clean water, and food security. The court appointed a government representative and a group of community members as guardians of the river.