The fulfilment of a broad range of human rights depend on thriving biodiversity as well as healthy habitats and ecosystems. These rights include the rights to food, clean air and water, health, culture, and even the right to life. Conversely, biodiversity and habitat loss can result in violations of these and other human rights. For example, biodiversity loss may disproportionately harm the human rights of indigenous peoples, local communities, women and girls, children and youth, the poor, and those in vulnerable situations.
States, businesses, international organizations, and other actors have obligations and responsibilities under both international environmental law and international human rights law to: address biodiversity and habitat loss, prevent its negative impacts on human rights, and ensure that actions to address biodiversity loss are equitable, non-retrogressive, non-discriminatory and sustainable.
This document highlights the key human rights obligations and responsibilities of biodiversity-related agreements, policies, strategies and actions.
This resource is part of a series by UNEP and UN Human Rights.
