Event Conference
Protecting Environmental Defenders: Updates and Challenges | Geneva Rights and Environment Talks
11 Mar 2024
13:00–14:00
Venue: Palais des Nations | H307-1 & Online | Webex
Organization: Geneva Roadmap 40/11 for Environmental Human Rights Defenders, International Service for Human Rights, Earthjustice, Geneva Environment Network
On the sidelines of the 55th session of the Human Rights Council, the Geneva Rights and Environment Talks aimed to harness the opportunity of this moment of the year to reflect on the challenges posed by the rapid decline of nature and biodiversity, and on how Geneva contributes to bringing together the actors working towards ensuring the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is upheld for all.
About this Session
Environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) have been increasingly under attack. Despite the triple planetary crisis and the global recognition of the right to a healthy, clean and sustainable environment, the number of cases of threats, intimidation, harassment and persecution of environmental human right defenders is rapidly increasing. The involvement of State and nonstate actors, the shrinking civil society space, corruption and impunity as a whole have made the work of these defenders even more challenging and deadly.
This event provided an overall landscape of the current situation of environmental human right defenders not only from the defenders themselves but also from the work of UN experts and relevant mandate holders who have been following and addressing these developments.
Following the previous events organized on these defenders these last years by the Geneva Roadmap 40/11, it also provides an opportunity to take stock of the steps made in the implementation of the HRC resolution 40/11 on the protection of Environmental Human Rights Defenders, since its adoption without a vote on 21 March 2019.
About the Geneva Rights and Environment Talks
In the face of the three interrelated environmental crises — climate change, loss of biodiversity, and pollution — the recognition of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment by the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly is an important milestone that puts environmental issues at the forefront of the human rights agenda.
The Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment reports to the Human Rights Council during its March session on issues related to his mandate. The Geneva Rights and Environment Talks aim to harness the opportunity of this moment of the year to reflect on the challenges posed by the rapid decline of nature and biodiversity and the intertwined human rights implications. The talks are also an opportunity to discuss how Geneva contributes to bringing together the actors working towards ensuring the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is upheld for all.
Speakers
By order of intervention.
Peter Bille LARSEN
Senior Lecturer and Researcher, Institute for Environmental Sciences (ISE), University of Geneva
Emiliana RICKENMANN MONTES
Centre de conseils et d’appui pour les jeunes en matière de droits humains (CODAP), Colombia
Ana Maria RODRIGUEZ VALENCIA
Director, Comision Colombiana de Juristas, Colombia
Lia Mai D. TORRES
Executive Director, Center for Environmental Concerns, Philippines
Joseph BURKE
Researcher & Head of Nairobi Office, Universal Rights Group
David BOYD
UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and environment
Clément VOULE
UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
Michel FORST
UN Special Rapporteur of the Aarhus Convention on Environmental Defenders
Tess McEVOY
Legal Counsel & New York Office Co-Director, International Service for Human Rights
Diana RIZZOLIO
Coordinator, Geneva Environment Network | Moderator
Highlights
Video
Live on Facebook
About the Geneva Roadmap 40/11
The Human Rights Council resolution 40/11 – Recognizing the contribution of environmental human rights defenders to the enjoyment of human rights, environmental protection and sustainable development – was adopted by the Human Rights Council by consensus on 21 March 2019. Following the adoption, platforms, coalitions and networks of defenders met in February 2020 to launch the Geneva Roadmap 40/11 for the implementation of this Human Rights Council Resolution 40/11.
The Geneva Roadmap 40/11 on the protection of the rights of persons engaged in the defense of the environment seeks to ensure the effective implementation of the right to act for the protection of the environment and to promote free and safe spaces for information and discussion on environmental matters.
Environment @ HRC55
The 55th regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC55) is taking place in Geneva and online from 26 February to 5 April 2024. This regularly updated page highlights the environmental-related activities of this session.
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