March
19, 2002
The linkages between Human Rights and Environment, and more specifically, the causal relationship that exists between environmental degradation and the violation of basic human rights, have been the focus of much recent debate in international human rights and environmental forums. Society is beginning to recognize the critical relationship that exists between environmental sustainability and the respect and protection of human rights. The Organization of American States passed in June of 2001, Resolution 1819 declaring member state interest in exploring this relationship. Efforts are now underway in the hemisphere to deepen our understanding of this linkage.
In view of this initiative, and other efforts at the global level to explore the links between human rights and environment, American University is holding a special seminar focusing on this overlap. The seminar will bring together a unique global collection of human rights and environmental experts to discuss advances made over the last decade on the development of mutual grounds between human rights and the environment. The seminar will cover international and hemispheric law developed to promote this linkage (such as the San Salvador Protocol), and review legislation, jurisprudence, and trends in review and decision-making mechanisms in international agencies, as well as other relevant activity which has served to promote a mutual reinforcement of environmental and human rights protection mechanisms.
The expert discussion will culminate in a series of evaluations of existing human rights and environmental protection mechanisms and offer a set of recommendations to the hemisphere’s inter-governmental bodies as well as governments, of how best to promote this agenda and strengthen human rights protection mechanisms while working towards more socially and environmentally sustainable development.
The experts and other parties present will be aided by a background document (including submissions received from governments, NGOs and other international agencies). The draft set of recommendations will then be presented to the Organization of American States in a one-day session on March 20th, 2002.
Recommendations from the
Experts
Minutes (partial only)
A New Development Strategy for the Americas: A Human Rights and Environment Perspective (CEDHA, 2002)
Una Nueva Estrategia para el Desarrollo para las Américas: Desde los Derechos Humanos y em Medio Ambiente (CEDHA, 2002)
Environmental Rights
in Multilateral Treaties Adopted between 1991 and 2001. Professor Dinah Shelton, University of Notre Dame
Environmental Issues
and Human Rights in Multilateral Treaties Adopted between 1991 and 2001.
Professor Dinah Shelton, University
of Notre Dame
A Review of
Institutional Developments at the International Level. Dr Adriana Fabra
Human Rights and the
Environment: Developments at the National Level, South Asia and Africa, Dr
Jona Razzaque
Other CEDHA Papers/Submissions
CEDHA
Recommendations to OHCHR-UNEP Experts Meeting on Human Rights and Environment
Draft
Legislation on Human Rights and Environment (English Version)
Draft
Legislation on Human Rights and Environment (Spanish Version)
Paper on Needs
for HR/ENV Legislation in Americas (English Version)
Paper on Needs
for HR/ENV Legislation in Americas (in Spanish)
OAS Resolution 1819
on Human Rights and Environment (English)
OAS Resolution
1819 on Human Rights and Ennvironment (Spanish)
Other Documents
Earth Justice
Invitation to NGO follow-up meeting
E-mail received by
NGOs from the OHCHR on Meeting
Civil
Society Declaration on Human Rights and Environment (ANPED)
Reconnaissance
et Mise en Oeuvre du Droit a L’Eau. Henri Smets, Conseil International du
Droit de L’Environnement