Human Rights and Environment
All human beings depend on the environment in which we live. A safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment is integral to the full enjoyment of a wide range of human rights, including the rights to life, health, food, water and sanitation. Without a healthy environment, we are unable to fulfill our aspirations or even live at a level commensurate with minimum standards of human dignity. At the same time, protecting human rights helps to protect the environment. When people are able to learn about, and participate in, the decisions that affect them, they can help to ensure that those decisions respect their need for a sustainable environment.
Updates
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Organizations
Thematic Platforms
Geneva Roadmap 40/11 for Environmental Human Rights Defenders
Geneva Roadmap 40/11 for Environmental Human Rights Defenders
Multilateral Environmental Agreements
UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters
Aarhus Convention
Intergovernmental Organizations
United Nations Information Portal on Multilateral Environmental Agreements
InforMEA
Intergovernmental Organizations
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
OHCHR
Experts
Andrés del Castillo
Andrés del Castillo is the Senior Attorney for the Environmental Health Program of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL).
Benjamin Schachter
Benjamin Schachter is Human Rights Officer and Environment team leader at United Nations Human Rights.
David Azoulay
David Azoulay is the Managing Attorney of the Center for International Environmental Law’s (CIEL) Geneva Office and the Director of CIEL’s Environmental Health Program.
Ella Behlyarova
Ella Behlyarova is a Programme Manager at the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol on PRTRs.
Emilia Wahlström
Emilia Wahlström is a Programme Management Officer at the UNISDR.
Fiona Marshall
Fiona Marshall is an Environmental Affairs Officer and the Secretary to the Compliance Committee at the Aarhus Convention of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
Francesca Mingrone
Francesca Mingrone is a Geneva-based staff attorney for the Climate & Energy Program of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL).
Giulia Carlini
Giulia Carlini is a Senior Attorney for the Environmental Health Program of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), and co-chair of IPEN Toxic Plastics Working Group.
Hélionor De Anzizu
Hélionor De Anzizu is a Staff Attorney for the Environmental Health Program of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL).
Ira Gibson
Ira Gibson is a Program Officer in Human Rights and Development, Peace and Security Policy at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Geneva Office.
Lien Vandamme
Lien Vandamme is a Senior Campaigner for Climate & Energy Program at the Center for International Environmental Law's (CIEL) office in Geneva.
Peter Bille Larsen
Peter Bille Larson is Senior Lecturer and Associate Researcher, at the Environmental Governance and Territorial Development Institute and Department of Sociology, of the University of Geneva.
Quentin Merour
Quentin Merour is an Environment Affairs Intern at the Geneva Environment Network.
Richard Pearshouse
Richard Pearshouse is the director of Environment and Human Rights Division at Human Rights Watch (HRW).
Rossella Recupero
Rossella Recupero is a Communications Associate at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL).
Sandra Epal-Ratjen
Sandra Epal-Ratjen is the International Advocacy Director and Deputy Executive Director of Franciscans International.
Sébastien Duyck
Sébastien Duyck is a Senior Attorney in the Climate & Energy Program at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Campaign Manager for the Human Rights and Climate Change portfolio.
Yves Lador
Yves Lador is the representative of Earthjustice to the United Nations in Geneva.Events
Body Meeting
54th regular session of the Human Rights Council | HRC54
11 Sep – 13 Oct 2023
Palais de Nations
HRC
Conference
Climate Change, Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women
03 Oct 2023 14:00 – 15:00
Palais des Nations | Room XXV,
United Arab Emirates, UN Women
Body Meeting
84th session of the UNECE Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management
04 – 06 Oct 2023
Palais des Nations
UNECE
Virtual
Addressing the Root Causes: Taking action on military spending and emissions to advance climate, gender justice, and peace | Peace @COP28
05 Oct 2023 14:00 – 15:00
Geneva Peacebuilding Platform
Virtual
Advancing a Rights-based Approach to Addressing Mercury Contamination | Minamata COP-5 Online Event
11 Oct 2023 16:30 – 17:30
Online | Webex
OHCHR, ILO, UNECE, Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council, GEN
Virtual
Ensuring Conflict Sensitivity in the Loss and Damage Fund | Peace @COP28
16 Oct 2023 11:00 – 13:00
Geneva Peacebuilding Platform
Body Meeting
Eighth Meeting of the Task Force on Access to Information under the Aarhus Convention
09 – 10 Nov 2023
Palais des Nations | Room III
UNECE
Body Meeting
12th United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights
27 – 29 Nov 2023
Palais de Nations & Online
OHCHR
Conference
Human Rights 75 High-Level Event | The Future of Human Rights, Climate and the Environment Roundtable
12 Dec 2023 14:00 – 15:30
Room XX – Palais des Nations | Online
OHCHR
Learning
Publications
