From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Bahram Ghazi</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:bghazi@ohchr.org">bghazi@ohchr.org</a>></span><br><div class="gmail_quote"><br><div style><div><div><div><p><font face="Arial" size="4"><b>Environment and human rights: the link
is there, and so is the States’ obligation to protect them – UN expert</b></font>
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<br><font face="Arial" size="3">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.”</font>
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<br><font face="Arial" size="3">“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.” </font>
<br>
<br><font face="Arial" size="3">“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.</font>
<br>
<br><font face="Arial" size="3">“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.”
</font>
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<br><font face="Arial" size="3">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.”</font>
<br>
<br><font face="Arial" size="3">“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.</font>
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<br><font face="Arial" size="3">“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.”</font>
<br>
<br><font face="Arial" size="3">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.</font>
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<br><font face="Arial"><b>(*)</b> Read the full report by the Independent
Expert: </font><a href="http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session22/A-HRC-22-43_en.pdf" target="_blank"><font color="blue" face="Arial"><u>http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session22/A-HRC-22-43_en.pdf</u></font></a><font face="Arial"><i>
</i></font>
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<br><br><font face="Arial"><i>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: </i></font><a href="http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Environment/IEEnvironment/Pages/IEenvironmentIndex.aspx" target="_blank"><font color="blue" face="Arial"><i><u>http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Environment/IEEnvironment/Pages/IEenvironmentIndex.aspx</u></i></font></a>
<br>
<br><font face="Arial"><i>For inquiries and <b>media requests</b></i><i>,
please contact Ramin Pejan (+41 22 917 9159 </i></font><a href="mailto:rpejan@ohchr.org" target="_blank"><font color="blue" face="Arial"><i><u>rpejan@ohchr.org</u></i></font></a><font face="Arial"><i>)
or write to </i></font><a href="mailto:ieenvironment@ohchr.org" target="_blank"><font color="blue" face="Arial"><i><u>ieenvironment@ohchr.org</u></i></font></a>
<br>
<br><font face="Arial">For <b>media inquiries</b> related to other
UN independent experts:</font>
<br><font face="Arial">Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit
(+ 41 22 917 9383 / </font><a href="mailto:xcelaya@ohchr.org" target="_blank"><font color="blue" face="Arial"><u>xcelaya@ohchr.org</u></font></a><font face="Arial">)
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