Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters was adopted on 25 June 1998 in the Danish city of Aarhus at the Fourth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference. It entered into force on 30 October 2001.

The Aarhus Convention is created to empower the role of citizens and civil society organisations in environmental matters and is founded on the principles of participative democracy.

The Aarhus Convention establishes a number of rights to the individuals and civil society organizations with regard to the environment. The Parties to the Convention are required to make the necessary provisions so that public authorities, at a national, regional or local level, will contribute to these rights to become effective.

Experts

Ella Behlyarova

Ella Behlyarova is a Programme Manager at the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol on PRTRs.

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).