Lead pollution was included in the official proceedings of the Ibero-American Association of Attorneys General (AIAMP). Here is how we got there.
Article by: Rodrigo Velarde – Country Director of Pure Earth Peru
When I was invited to the 33rd General Assembly of Ibero-American Association of Attorneys General, I did not hesitate to say yes. It was a unique opportunity to raise awareness about an issue affecting millions of children in Latin America, Spain, Portugal, and Andorra.
I have spent years working on lead pollution in Peru as Country Director for Pure Earth. During that time, I have fostered strong partnerships with health and environment agencies that identify sources of lead pollution, reduce exposure, and limit harm to human health. This year, we established a new partnership with Peru’s Attorney General’s Office, marking a strategic shift in our approach to lead contamination. The partnership strengthens our efforts by bringing new capabilities to prevent, investigate, and prosecute lead contamination.
Presenting to Ibero-America’s Attorneys General
On September 30, 2026, at the 33rd General Assembly, I took the floor and gave the attendees clear data to empower them to act. Lead exposure negatively impacts millions of children throughout the region, and the damage to their development is permanent. I shared that many sources of lead are linked to illegal, informal, or formal activities, from unregulated used lead-acid battery recycling to adulterated products. Prosecutors are uniquely positioned to stop these practices before they start; they can also investigate them, and bring cases against them. No other government institution has the mandate to do all three.
I also shared our experience with Peru’s Attorney General’s Office, whereby Pure Earth donated X-ray fluorescence analyzers to detect heavy metals on the spot. These instruments are portable and can detect lead in various objects within seconds. This is a concrete example of our partnership in action.
Video: Rodrigo Velarde’s speech at the 33rd General Assembly of the Ibero-American Association of Public Prosecutors
An Encouraging Response
I wasn’t sure how the room would react. Then, Patricia Silvestre, representative from Andorra’s Attorney General’s Office, shared her impressions:
“The presentation was particularly interesting and enriching, both for the relevance of the topics addressed and for the clarity of the presentation. It made it possible to learn about and reflect on issues of great importance, offering a novel perspective of special interest to the participants of the Assembly.”
Conversations That Open Doors
Agustín Gama, Pure Earth México’s Country Director, and I met with delegations from Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico, hosted by the Attorney General’s Office of Peru.
We centered our conversation around one question: how can prosecutors join, lead, and complement the work already under way against lead in their countries? The discussion was frank and practical, and we left hopeful that these delegations are willing to join the cause.
From Dialogue to Commitment
The next day, October 1, the representatives from the Attorney General’s Office from 20 countries signed the Assembly’s Meeting Proceedings in Ollantaytambo. These two proceedings relate directly to our work:
- Conclusion 28: records the concern raised by Peru’s Attorney General (Fiscal de la Nación) about the impact of lead and other heavy metals on children’s health, associated with illicit and informal economies and commerce involving contaminated products. The conclusion also requests that AIAMP’s Environmental Protection Network incorporate this issue as a priority in its roadmap for investigating environmental crimes, in accordance with each country’s legal framework.
- Conclusion 29: acknowledges Pure Earth’s support for the Assembly, alongside EL PACCTO 2.0, UNODC, and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
These words matter. The General Assembly has never before issued a call to action on lead as a public health issue, and this gives us regional backing to work with Attorney General’s offices in each country.
What Comes Next:
The signing of AIAMP’s proceedings is a starting point. Over the coming months, we will work on three fronts:
- National agendas: We will support each Public Prosecutor’s Office to add lead to its national and regional agenda.
- Regional channel: We will stay in direct contact with the Ibero-American Association of Attorneys General (AIAMP) to follow up and offer support.
- Outreach: We will spread messages among partners.
Our participation strengthened our relationships with Attorneys General Offices throughout Ibero-America. Peru’s lessons learned can now be useful to other countries, and the meeting proceedings can be used to open doors.
Our message to every Attorney General’s Office in Ibero-America is simple: if you want to address lead, Pure Earth is ready to work with you.
