PHM-Exch> Environment and human rights: the link is there, and so is the States’ obligation to protect them – UN expert

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Bahram Ghazi <bghazi at ohchr.org>

*Environment and human rights: the link is there, and so is the States’
obligation to protect them – UN expert*

GENEVA (7 March 2013) – The United Nations Independent Expert on human
rights and environment, John Knox, highlighted the urgent need to clarify
the human rights obligations linked to the enjoyment of a safe, clean,
healthy and sustainable environment. Such clarification, he said, “is
necessary in order for States and others to better understand what those
obligations require and ensure that they are fully met, at every level from
the local to the global.”

“Human rights and the environment are not only interrelated, they are also
interdependent,” Mr. Knox noted during the presentation of his preliminary
report* to the Human Rights Council. “A healthy environment is
fundamentally important to the enjoyment of human rights, and the exercise
of human rights is necessary for a healthy environment.”

“All human rights are vulnerable to environmental degradation, in that the
full enjoyment of all human rights depends on a supportive environment,”
underscored the Independent Expert.

“The lack of a complete understanding as to the content of all
environmentally related human rights obligations should not be taken as
meaning that no such obligations exist. Indeed, some aspects of the duties
are already clear,” he said. “Applicable human rights obligations are not
lessened merely because the environment is concerned.”

In his report Mr. Knox also identifies rights whose implementation is vital
to environmental policymaking, such as the rights to freedom of expression
and association, rights to receive information and participate in
decision-making processes, and rights to legal remedies. “The exercise of
these rights,” he explained, “makes environmental policies more
transparent, better informed and more responsive to those most concerned.”

“States should recognize the important work carried out by human rights
defenders working on land and environmental issues in trying to find a
balance between economic development and environmental protection, should
not tolerate their stigmatization and should ensure prompt and impartial
investigations into alleged violations of their rights,” he said.

“Although the interdependence between human rights and the environment may
seem self-evident,” warned the Independent Expert, “the specific contours
of substantive and procedural duties relating to the environment require
further clarification.”

Mr. Knox’s preliminary report identifies many issues that need to be
addressed in moving forward, including those regarding transboundary and
global environmental harm, such as climate change; non-State actors, such
as multinational corporations; and vulnerable groups, including children,
the displaced, the extremely poor and indigenous peoples.

*(*)* Read the full report by the Independent Expert:  *
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session22/A-HRC-22-43_en.pdf
*<http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session22/A-HRC-22-43_en.pdf>
* *


*John Knox was appointed as the Independent Expert on human rights and the
environment in July 2012 by the United Nations Human Rights Council. He is
independent from any government or organization. Learn more, visit:   **
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Environment/IEEnvironment/Pages/IEenvironmentIndex.aspx
*<http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Environment/IEEnvironment/Pages/IEenvironmentIndex.aspx>

*For inquiries and media requests**, please contact Ramin Pejan (+41 22 917
9159 **rpejan at ohchr.org* <rpejan at ohchr.org>*) or write to **
ieenvironment at ohchr.org* <ieenvironment at ohchr.org>

For *media inquiries* related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / *
xcelaya at ohchr.org* <xcelaya at ohchr.org>)

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Check the Universal Human Rights Index:
*http://uhri.ohchr.org/en*<http://uhri.ohchr.org/en>
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