An international organization that often finds itself at the centre of human rights conflicts in developing countries has turned its attention to a small town in southwest Nova Scotia.

Amnesty International has joined a long-standing community fight to bring clean water to a settlement of African Nova Scotians whose properties have wells and are next to an old garbage dump that operated for 70 years in Shelburne.

There are concerns the dump has contaminated well water and caused high rates of cancer among the approximately 50 Black residents who live close by.

Members of Amnesty’s Canadian office toured the area in late October to hear first-hand stories of historical and ongoing concerns.

“It was eye-opening to see what’s happening, it was also a shock,” David Matsinhe, the group’s director of research, policy and advocacy, said in an interview from Ottawa.