Protecting Our Planet, Empowering Our Peoples: Sign-on Statement in support of the Escazú Agreement

La traducción al Español y el formulario se encuentran aquí

We, the movements and civil society organizations from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and beyond, advocating for the rights of communities and peoples, strongly denounce the rampant corporate exploitation of our land and natural resources such as the extension of monocultures, megaprojects and extractivism, the logging and forest exploitation, depletion of water sources and destruction of ecosystems, which has exacerbated the climate crisis, generating frequent attacks on environmental defenders and organizations that work with the affected sectors.

Despite the obstacles, we remain firm in our commitment to remain at the forefront of the struggle to defend our peoples, communities, and planet. It is our commitment to promote to advocate for the creation of policies and actions that protect nature and ensure the well-being of our citizens, even in the face of powerful opposition from corporate interests. The LAC region is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, which is unique and is not only vital for maintaining ecological balance but also provides valuable land and natural goods, sources of livelihood and identity for its inhabitants. With its wide range of ecosystems, preserving the natural habitat is critical to the sustainability of life both regionally and globally.

However, the preservation of LAC’s natural resources has come at a hefty price. From 2012 to 2021, Global Witness reported 1733 fatalities among environmental defenders, with 68% of the incidents taking place in Latin America. Land and resource conflicts in rural Latin America have led to violence against women who defend their communities’ natural resources. Environmental defenders such as Berta Cáceres, Margarita Murillo, and Silvia Suppo have been subjected to threats and violence while defending the integrity of the environment and human rights. The assassination of these women and many others highlights the dangers faced by environmental defenders in Latin America and the urgent need to protect their rights and safety.

Therefore, we stress the importance and urgency of the Escazu Agreement. As more countries ratify or accede to it and it is effectively implemented, civil society and movements are further empowered to hold governments in the region accountable for their obligation to protect the rights of the peoples of LAC to live in a healthy environment, avoiding further environmental degradation and destructive practices. The agreement also promotes strategies for building capacity in climate change planning and management, with a focus on helping impacted groups and frontline communities to ensure that no one is left behind. It is also the first binding agreement worldwide that establishes unique provisions to ensure the recognition and protection of environmental defenders, as well as a safe and enabling environment to carry out their work through adequate and effective prevention and protection measures.We call on the States to ratify or accede to the Escazú Agreement, affirming their commitment to strong actions to guarantee the principles and provisions regarding access rights (access to information, public participation, access to justice) and the protection of environmental defenders.

 

We call on the States to ratify or accede to the Escazú Agreement, affirming their commitment to strong actions to guarantee the principles and provisions regarding access rights (access to information, public participation, access to justice) and the protection of environmental defenders.

 

We affirm that the Escazú Agreement is a crucial instrument and a significant advance in safeguarding human rights in a democracy and environmental governance that guarantees public participation and the well-being of environmental defenders.

 

As civil society organizations and environment defenders, we demand that States and Governments adopt and implement similar agreements in various local and international contexts, thus extending the benefits of this historic treaty to a broader audience.

 

We urge fellow civil society organizations, social movements, and peoples’ organizations to stand with those who defend the environment and support the Escazu Agreement. The urgency to act to safeguard the integrity of the planet has never been greater. Therefore, we must unite to guarantee the right to a healthy environment and sustainable development for present and future generations.

Stop the Attacks against People and the Planet! Defend those who protect the environment!

Signatories:

Latin America and the Caribbean

Marine Ecosystems Protected Areas (MEPA) Trust (Antigua and Barbuda)
Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia Inc (Saint Lucia)
AfrosRD (República Dominicana)
Tzuk Kim pop (Guatemala)
PAMPA 2030 (Argentina)
Movimiento Ciudadano Frente al Cambio Climático – MOCICC (Perú)
Grupo Nacional de Presupuesto Publico (Perú)
Red Paz Integración y Desarrollo “Pazinde” (Bolivia)
Fundación Hábitat Verde (Bolivia)
Fórum Solidaridad Perú (Perú)
POAJOAJU – Asociación de ONGs del Paraguay (Paraguay)
GCAP-LAC (Nicaragua)
Marea Roja (Argentina)
Defensores do Planeta (Brazil)
Red Latinoamericana por Justicia Económica y Social (LATINDADD)
Plataforma Boliviana Frente al Cambio Climático (Bolivia)
Coalición de Tendencia Clasista (Venezuela)
Colectiva YO CUIDO PERÚ (Perú)
PROJEKTA (Suriname)
SOBREVIVENCIA, Amigos de la Tierra Paraguay (Paraguay)
Red Nicaragüense de Comercio Comunitario RENICC (Nicaragua)
Asociación Generaciones de Paz (El Salvador)

Asia

Rumpun Perempuan dan Anak Indonesia (Indonesia)
SERUNI (Indonesia)
Palangkaraya Ecological and Human Rights Studies (PROGRESS) (Indonesia)
Blue Dalian (China)
ETOs Watch Coalition (Thailand)
Sankalpa Darchula Nepal (Nepal)
National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal (Nepal)
Association For Promotion Sustainable Development (India)
Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (Philippines)
Vikas Adhyayan Kendra (India)
UP Diliman College of Science Student Council (Philippines)
Agham Youth National (Philippines)
Walhi Central Kalimantan (Indonesia)
Haring Ibon UPLB (Philippines)
Pangasinan Youth for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (Philippines)

Africa

Society for Conservation and Sustainability of Energy and Environment in Nigeria (SOCSEEN) (Nigeria)
Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) (Nigeria)
Réseau des ONG de Développement et Associations de Défense des Droits de l’Homme et de la Démocratie (RODADDHD) (République du Niger)
IBON Africa (Kenya)
Zambia Social Forum (Zambia)
Diplomats For Health In Resilient Community (Kenya)
AbibiNsroma Foundation (Ghana)

North America

Indigenous Environmental Network (United States)
AidWatch Canada (Canada)

Europe

Water Justice and Gender (Netherlands)
Ecoropa (Europe)
Fair Finance International (Netherlands)
Global Pact Coalition (France)
Landelijk Netwerk Bossen- en Bomenbescherming.nl (Netherlands)

International and Regional Organizations and Networks

Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary NGO
Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation
Asia Pacific Network of Environment Defenders
Global Forest Coalition
Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)


Individuals

Oscar Ugarteche, Mexico
Julio Cesar Aguilera Hurtado, Bolivia
Shovcat Alizadeh, Azerbaijan
Lucky Abeng, Nigeria
Kate Borgonia, Philippines
Oscar Ugarteche, Mexico
Julio Cesar Aguilera Hurtado, Bolivia
Alonso González Del Alcazar, Perú
Maritza Mayo, Perú
Adelaida Galeano, Paraguay
Esteban Maturana, Chile
Wendy Toro, Colombia
Martín Incio, Canada
Rodolfo Bejarano, Perú
Kevin Conrad A. Ibasco, Philippines
César Artiga, El Salvador