The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and UN Human Rights Office have signed an agreement to prioritise efforts to promote and protect environmental and human rights issues.
The signing of the agreement comes as threats to individuals and communities defending their environment and land rights intensify in many parts of the world.
The heads of the two UN bodies who signed the agreement in Geneva agreed that although more than 150 countries have recognised the human right to a healthy environment in their constitutions and national laws, more work is needed to inform policy-makers, justice institutions and the public on ways they can take action to uphold their rights.
The Executive Director of UNEP, Inger Andersen called for the need to curb intimidation and criminalisation of land and environmental defenders, and the use of anti- protest to criminalise the exercise of rights that should constitutionally protected.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet called on leaders and governments to recognise that climate change and environmental degradation severely undermine the human right of their people, particularly those in vulnerable situations.
The two organisations will work closely to monitor threats against environmental rights defenders and advocate for better protection, develop networks of environmental human rights activists among others.
Story by Joyce Gyekye.
