UNSR David Boyd calls on LAC Governments to ratify Escazu Agreement

One of the strongest messages emerging from child and adult participants at the Children’s Environmental Rights Initiative (CERI) regional consultation for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) which took place in Bogota, Colombia in May 2019, was that Governments should rapidly sign and ratify the Escazu Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean.

As a direct follow-up, the UN Special Rapporteur David Boyd has written to all LAC Governments that have not yet ratified the Escazu Agreement to ask them to do so.

To send an even more powerful message, his Office asked 16 other Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups to co-sign the letter. To date, the Governments of Argentina, Brazil, and Guatemala have responded. All of the letters can be viewed by searching on the Communications database (select Mandates “Environment” and Date “15 July 2019 onwards). Responses from Governments will be uploaded as they are received.

The Agreement requires 11 signatures to come into force.

In addition, discussions are now underway between the CERI secretariat and ECLAC to develop a child-friendly version of the agreement and communication materials to raise awareness of the Escazu Agreement and children’s rights.

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