Human Rights and the Environment: Meeting on Activities Related to 59th Session of the Human Rights Council

About this Session

Environmental issues are present in various agenda items of each session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) and their side events.

The promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change is the usual main environmental theme of the Council’s June sessions, with the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and climate change’s annual report to the HRC. Addressing extreme poverty, the rights of internally displaced persons, the rights to water and sanitation, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples are also environment-related issues that will be presented by their respective United Nations Special Procedures, also in interactive dialogues with States, international organizations, human rights national institutions and NGOs.

To develop more synergies among stakeholders and a better outreach on the environmental agenda of HRC59, including the activities taking place in parallel to the Council’s session, the Geneva Environment Network, the Geneva Climate Change Consultation Group (GeCCco), and partners convened an information-sharing session. This event discussed and shared information on planned environment-related activities at and around HRC59, such as in-person and online events, publications or exhibitions, among others, and exchange on possible synergies. They will feed the GEN page on HRC59 which will provide an updated calendar of these environment-related events. → Share information on your activity!

Speakers

Arnold KREILHUBER

Director, Europe Office, UN Environment Programme

Ira GIBSON

Program Officer for Climate, Business and Human Rights, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Geneva Office

Benjamin SCHACHTER

Coordinator, Environment and Climate Change Team, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Frédérique BOURQUE

Human Rights Officer, OHCHR (Mandate of SR on climate change and human rights)

Sofia PALLI

Associate Human Rights Officer, OHCHR (Mandate of SR on the human rights of internally displaced persons)

Richard NCUBE

Environmental Rights Specialist, UN Environment Programme

Jan Harvey PARAFINA

Research and Communications Consultant, Geneva Environment Network

Diana RIZZOLIO

Coordinator, Geneva Environment Network | Moderator

Highlights

Video

Live from International Environment House

Share Information on your Event @ HRC59

Information shared will be placed in our update « Environment @ 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council ».

Links

• Environment @ 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
• Geneva Climate Change Consultation Group (GeCCco)
• Human Rights and the Environment
• Human Rights, Climate Change, and the Role of Geneva