2024-08-30 02:12:33
This agreement not only recognises the right of people to live in a healthy environment, but also establishes mechanisms to guarantee access to information, public participation and justice in environmental matters.
The Constitutional Court declared Law 2273 of 2022, through which the Escazú Agreement is ratified, constitutional. This important instrument, officially called the “Regional Agreement on Access to Environmental Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice in Latin America and the Caribbean”, has been classified as one of the most relevant treaties on environmental and human rights matters in the last two decades in the region.
The Escazú Agreement, adopted on March 4, 2018 in the city of Escazú, Costa Rica, represents a milestone in global environmental legislation. This treaty not only recognizes the right of people to live in a healthy environment, but also establishes mechanisms to guarantee access to information, public participation and justice in environmental matters. In addition, it is the first agreement in the world to include specific provisions to protect environmental defenders, a crucial issue for a region that has become one of the most dangerous for those fighting for the protection of nature.
Access to information
One of the most notable aspects of the Escazú Agreement is the regulation of access to environmental information. According to the organization Escazú Ahora, this treaty obliges States to generate, collect and disseminate environmental information in a proactive, regular and comprehensible manner. This includes the preparation of national reports on the state of the environment and the continuous evaluation of the policies implemented for its protection. This provision seeks to empower citizens, allowing them to be informed and actively participate in the protection of their environment.
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The treaty also places a strong emphasis on public participation in environmental decision-making. As Escazú Ahora points out, this participation must take place from the earliest stages of projects, within reasonable timeframes and under conditions that take into account the social, economic, cultural, geographic and gender characteristics of the communities involved. This inclusive and participatory approach seeks to ensure that environmental decisions are made democratically and that they reflect the needs and concerns of all affected parties.
Protection of defenders
The protection of environmental defenders is another fundamental pillar of the Escazú Agreement. The treaty seeks to guarantee safe and violence-free environments for those who defend human rights and the environment. This measure is particularly relevant in a context where Latin America and the Caribbean have become the most dangerous regions for environmental defenders. A report by Global Witness revealed that, during 2022, Colombia was the country with the most murders of human rights and territorial defenders, recording 60 deaths in a year described as “disastrous” for the country.
With the ratification of the Escazú Agreement, Colombia joins 13 other countries in the region that have ratified this important treaty, consolidating its commitment to the protection of the environment and human rights. The approval of the Constitutional Court represents the last step for Escazú to become a tangible reality in the country, marking a significant advance in the fight for a more just and sustainable future.
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