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Background
Environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) are at the forefront of the triple planetary crises of pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change. All EHRDs, as individuals and groups who, in their personal or professional capacity and in a peaceful manner, strive to protect and promote human rights relating to the environment, including water, air, land, flora, and fauna1, play an essential role in protecting the environment, supporting the rights of communities to participate in environmental decision making and calling out unsustainable development practices and illegal actions causing environmental harm. Their role is central to realizing the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment: a right that has recently been given universal recognition.
Following a landmark resolution adopted at the Human Rights Council in 20212, on 28 July 2022 the United Nations General Assembly recognized, for the first time, that a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a universal human right3. The General Assembly resolution affirms the importance of a clean, healthy and sustainable environment for the enjoyment of all human rights, and calls upon States, international organizations, business enterprises, and other relevant stakeholders to scale up efforts to ensure a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment for all. There is no time more critical to support and champion the role of EHRDs than now, to ensure that the right to a healthy environment is implemented for everyone everywhere.
Environmental defenders continue to be at the forefront of environmental protection, holding governments and businesses to account for environmental harms and upholding the rights of those most affected by environmental degradation. Environmental defenders fill a vital gap in spotlighting the inaction of primary duty-bearers. Despite the crucial contribution from environmental human rights defenders, they are rarely recognised and often neglected as significant drivers of sustainable and just social and environmental progress. Instead of lauding the actions of EHRDs, they are instead frequently subject to violent attacks and reprisals, stigmatization, arbitrary detention, and lawsuits. Environmental defenders who may be activists, journalists, Indigenous peoples, and members of local communities, who are at the forefront of sustainable development and good environmental governance, are often targeted and harassed.
Among the 615 human rights defender attacks linked to Business and Human Rights tracked in 2021, nearly 70% were against climate, land, and environmental rights defenders4. Data demonstrated that while attacks against EHRDs happen in every region of the world, Asia Pacific was the most affected region in 2021 with 247 cases. Most attacks occurred in India (49) and the Philippines (44).
Recognising the significant risks facing EHRDs, the Inaugural Asia Pacific Environmental Human Rights Defender Forum was held from 17-19 November 2021, convened by the UN Environment Programme, UN Human Rights, and the Asia Pacific Network of Environmental Defenders together with Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, EarthRights International, FORUM-ASIA, Asia Research Institute for Environmental Law, and Diplomacy Training Programme. Based on interactive dialogue and thematic sessions held during the first Asia Pacific EHRD Forum, a set of recommendations were collated.
Recommendations included:
- increase support, solidarity, and alliances to effect change;
- work at the grassroots level but provide regional and global backstopping;
- ensure that environmental defenders have protection and access to information and justice, and can participate in decision-making and other processes;
- there is a need to develop counter-narratives about environmental defenders;
- ensure a human rights-based approach to environmental issues;
- increase knowledge and awareness of the situation of environmental defenders;
- develop capacities of environmental defenders;
- increase awareness of human rights standards, treaties, and mechanisms including in relation to business and human rights (BHR);
- improve, legislate and strengthen national laws and policies for protection, access to rights and ensure public participation;
- advance a regional legally binding framework;
- ensure that foreign countries and international financial institutions follow human rights due diligence; and
- strengthen relationships among national to international institutions.
These recommendations have guided UN programming and advocacy at the country and regional levels to continue to support the contribution of EHRDs.
To build on the outcomes of the first Forum, the 2nd Asia Pacific EHRD Forum will be held from 25-27 October 2022 as a dedicated space for EHRDs to come together and safely discuss, learn from each other’s experiences and successes, and build awareness and capacity. The 2nd Asia Pacific EHRD Forum will also focus on capacity-building sessions that will equip EHRDs with additional knowledge and skills.
