...“In the face of proliferating environmental conflicts and persistent intimidation, harassment and detention of environmental human rights defenders, the Escazú Agreement offers hope to the countless individuals and communities in the region that suffer from pollution and the negative impacts of extractive industries,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, Marcos Orellana.

“The Escazú Agreement commits parties to guarantee the right to a healthy environment,” added David Boyd, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment. “It provides citizens and communities with the tools needed to hold States accountable for protecting and fulfilling this fundamental right.”

The Escazú Agreement includes strong protections for indigenous peoples and environmental human rights defenders, at a time when they are subject to unprecedented levels of violence.

The experts expressed hope that the treaty could serve as a model for other regions to improve cooperation and mobilise efforts for better governance of natural resources and environmental protection through transparency, accountability and community engagement. By ensuring people’s rights to information, participation, and access to justice, the Agreement affirms a strong rights-based approach to environmental governance...