Human Rights and the Environment

A/HRC/RES/37/8View PDF

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the Human Rights Council, under agenda item 3Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, published in 2018.

What other versions does this mandate have?

8 versions · 2011–2021

This is an older version — the most recent is A/HRC/RES/46/7

2021A/HRC/RES/46/7Human rights and the environmentLatestCompare with previous version
2018A/HRC/RES/37/8Human rights and the environmentCompare with previous version
2017A/HRC/RES/34/20Human rights and the environmentCompare with previous version
2016A/HRC/RES/31/8Human rights and the environmentCompare with previous version
2015A/HRC/RES/28/11Human rights and the environmentCompare with previous version

Versions are identified automatically by matching titles within the same organ (~97% accuracy on a manual audit).

What subjects does this mandate have?

8 topics

Conferences Environment Environmental Policy Environmental Protection Human Rights Human Rights Policy International Obligations Special Rapporteurs

What does this mandate say?

26 operative paragraphs

Welcomes the work undertaken by the Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, including in the implementation of his mandate, the comprehensive, transparent and inclusive consultations conducted with relevant stakeholders, his thematic reports, and the undertaking of regional country visits;

Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Special Rapporteur on the relationship between children’s rights and environmental protection, in which he examined the increasing international attention to the relationship between children's rights and the environment, the severe effects of environmental harm on the rights of children, human rights obligations relating to children’s rights in the environmental context, the relationship of future generations and children’s rights, and makes recommendations aimed at increasing respect, protection and fulfilment of the rights of children in relation to the environment;

Also takes note with appreciation of the report of the Special Rapporteur, in which he presented his framework principles on human rights and the environment for the consideration of States, international organizations, civil society organizations and business enterprises, and calls upon States to implement fully their obligations to respect and ensure human rights without distinction of any kind, including in the application of environmental laws and policies;

Welcomes the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the issue of human rights and the environment;

Also welcomes the work undertaken by the United Nations Environment Programme in support of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and in helping to clarify the relationship between human rights and the environment, and contributing to the implementation of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment;

Decides to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment for a period of three years;

Requests the Special Rapporteur, in fulfilling the mandate:

To continue to study the human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, in consultation with Governments, relevant international organizations and intergovernmental bodies, including the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Development Programme, and relevant multilateral environment agreements, human rights mechanisms, local authorities, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, including those representing indigenous peoples and other persons in vulnerable situations, the private sector and academic institutions;

To continue to identify, promote and exchange views on good practices relating to human rights obligations and commitments that inform, support and strengthen environmental policymaking, especially in the area of environmental protection, and in that regard to disseminate and consider updating documents elaborated by the previous mandate holder, as appropriate;

To promote and report on the realization of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, taking into account the reports and documents produced by the previous mandate holder, and to disseminate his or her findings by, inter alia, continuing to give particular emphasis to practical solutions with regard to their implementation;

To work on identifying challenges and obstacles to the full realization of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment and protection gaps thereto, including in the context of sustainable development;

To continue to contribute to and participate in, where appropriate, intergovernmental conferences and meetings relevant to the mandate, including at the United Nations Environment Assembly;

To develop a dialogue, liaise and collaborate with all relevant stakeholders with a view to enhancing public awareness of the human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment;

To conduct country visits and to respond promptly to invitations from States;

To apply a gender perspective by, inter alia, considering the particular situation of women and girls and identifying gender-specific discrimination and vulnerabilities, and addressing good practices where women and girls act as agents of change in safeguarding and managing sustainably the environment;

To work in close coordination, while avoiding unnecessary duplication, with other special procedures and subsidiary organs of the Human Rights Council, relevant United Nations bodies, agencies, funds and programmes, including the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Development Programme, the treaty bodies and international and regional organizations, and multilateral environmental agreements, taking into account the views of other stakeholders, including relevant regional human rights mechanisms, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and academic institutions;

To submit an annual report, including conclusions and recommendations, to the Human Rights Council and to the General Assembly;

Calls upon all States, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, other international organizations and non-governmental organizations, the private sector and national human rights institutions to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, including by providing all necessary information related to the mandate to enable him or her to fulfil the mandate;

Requests the High Commissioner to ensure that the Special Rapporteur receives the resources necessary to enable him or her to discharge the mandate fully;

Requests the Special Rapporteur, in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner:

To convene, prior to the forty-third session of the Human Rights Council, an expert seminar on experience and best practices of States at the national and regional levels with regard to human rights obligations relating to the environment, and on the contribution of relevant actors, including the Special Rapporteur, in this regard;

To invite States and other relevant stakeholders, including academic experts, civil society organizations and treaty bodies, to participate actively in the seminar;

To invite relevant experts of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, other international organizations and conventions to participate in the seminar;

To submit to the Human Rights Council, at its forty-third session, a summary report on the above-mentioned seminar, including any recommendations stemming therefrom, for consideration of further follow-up action;

Stresses the need for enhanced cooperation among States, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Office of the High Commissioner and other relevant international and regional organizations, agencies, conventions and programmes, in accordance with their respective mandates, including by regularly exchanging knowledge and ideas and building synergies in the protection of human rights and the protection of the environment, bearing in mind an integrated and multisectoral approach;

Decides to remain seized of the matter, in accordance with its annual programme of work.

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