Human Rights Lunch Online: Environmental human rights defenders - new developments and their implications for the European Union and the European Parliament

Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs) play a crucial role as custodians of the right to a healthy environment—not only for themselves but for future generations and other living beings. Yet, despite recent breakthroughs, their rights remain fragile and at risk of regression.

The Human Rights Lunch Online seminar on 29 May will provide an overview of both long-standing and new legal and policy developments concerning EHRDs, focusing on:

•  Different approaches and understandings of EHRDs
•  International obligations and accountability mechanisms
• Opportunities and challenges in using EU instruments to advance EHRDs’ rights
• EU collaboration with other regions on environmental democracy

Maria Andrea Nardi (Department of Human Geography), Claudia Ituarte-Lima (RWI) and Britta Sjöstedt (Faculty of Law) will discuss recent progress—such as the UN’s recognition of the right to a healthy environment and the move from voluntary guidelines to binding provisions on sustainability due diligence—while also addressing risks of backsliding. Recommendations will be shared for strengthening EHRDs’ role and rights.