Right to water: the situation of the Cuenca canton and the popular consultation

Abstract

Popular consultation in the basin stands out as a crucial pillar for safeguarding the right to water and preserving local ecosystems. This process of citizen participation not only constitutes an essential democratic exercise, but also emerges as a powerful tool to empower the community in crucial decisions that affect their access to water resources. By providing citizens with a voice, the community becomes an active advocate for their collective interests, advocating for sustainable access to water and contributing to a future that balances human needs with the responsible preservation of natural resources. The selected research methodology is qualitative, allowing an exhaustive interpretative analysis of diverse expert perspectives on the contamination of water sources by mining exploitation in the Canton of Cuenca. It seeks to deepen in theories, approaches and contributions, identifying nuances, contexts and significant connections. The objective of the article is to analyze the results of the popular consultation from legal and environmental perspectives, evaluating its impact on the protection of the right to water and nature in Ecuador. This research will contribute to a more complete and detailed understanding of the problem, enriching the quality and breadth of the analysis.