In light of the increasing targeting of climate justice activists, a new legal mechanism which is being hailed as a “landmark” by the UN. Its press release characterized the new mechanism as “the first ever internationally-agreed tool to safeguard environmental defenders, it marks an important step in upholding the universal right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment”.
In its 17th Session held in Geneva, Switzerland on 21st October, the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention). 46 countries from the EU and the pan-European region are party to this convention.
A Special Rapporteur will be appointed under this mechanism to provide a rapid response to rights violations of environmental defenders that are prohibited under Article 3 (8) of the Convention.
"20 years ago, the #AarhusConvention entered into force, bridging the gap between human & environmental rights. Today, as the devastating effects of #climatechange continue to ravage the world, the Convention’s core purpose has never been more critical" -????????@UN SG @antonioguterres pic.twitter.com/Ucw9TzPvvp
— UNECE (@UNECE) October 21, 2021
Read the full official press release here
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